Nathan Aspinall and Jonny Clayton set up World Matchplay final show-down
Jonny Clayton will meet Nathan Aspinall in the 2023 World Matchplay final, after the pair overcame Luke Humphries and Joe Cullen on a thrilling Saturday night in Blackpool.
Clayton came through an epic encounter against Humphries to seal his spot in Sunday’s showpiece, recovering from 10-7 down to triumph 17-15 in a Matchplay marathon.
Aspinall, meanwhile, ran out a convincing 17-9 winner over Cullen in the evening’s opener, punishing a poor display of finishing from the Yorkshireman to keep his title tilt alive.
Clayton and Aspinall were embroiled in a fascinating battle for Play-Off qualification in this year’s Premier League, and now they will renew their rivalry as they compete for the £200,000 top prize and the Phil Taylor Trophy.
Wales’ World Cup winner Clayton landed nine ton-plus checkouts during his previous wins over Dimitri Van den Bergh and Ryan Searle, and he was indebted to another devastating display of doubling at the Winter Gardens.
Humphries – eyeing a place in his second televised ranking final – stole an early march with a run of three consecutive legs, keeping Clayton at arm’s length in the opening exchanges.
The 28-year-old squandered two darts for a 9-5 advantage, although he made amends by following up a 78 finish with a 14-darter to regain his three-leg cushion at 10-7.
Clayton responded with a brilliant tops-tops finish to break throw in 12 darts, which he followed with a 13-dart hold to reduce the arrears to a solitary leg at 9-10.
Humphries edged back ahead with a clutch 80 checkout in leg 20, but Clayton continued to plug away and eventually got his reward, reeling off three straight leg to hit the front.
Sixth seed Humphries stopped the rot to restore parity at 13-13, and he was afforded a reprieve in the closing stages when Clayton uncharacteristically missed two darts at doubles to move 16-14 ahead.
Nevertheless, Clayton regained his poise to move to the brink of victory with a 14-dart hold, before sealing his progress with a nerveless 80 kill on tops, after Humphries had missed the single 18 to deny himself a shot at a 118 skin-saver.
“This means a lot to me,” reflected the Welshman, who averaged just under 99 and pinned 61% of his attempts at double to end the hopes of Humphries, who crashed in ten maximums in defeat.
“To get over the line against one of the best players in the world is an amazing feeling. Luke Humphries is going to go on and pick up majors time after time!
“I had to dig deep, but you’ve got to take your chances and that’s what I did, and I really hope I can pick this trophy up tomorrow.
“Me and Nathan were involved in a scrap for the Premier League [Play-Offs] this year and Gezzy Price helped me out. I’ve got no help tomorrow night. I have to do the job, and fingers crossed I can do it.”
Aspinall moved through to his third televised final in the space of nine months with a comprehensive victory against Cullen, who was left to rue 28 missed darts at doubles.
Aspinall was the aggressor in the opening exchanges, defying a superb 148 checkout from Cullen in leg seven to establish a three-leg buffer, converting a clinical 116 checkout on tops to lead 7-4.
The Stockport star stretched his lead during a decisive spell midway through the match, punishing a host of missed opportunities from Cullen to extend his cushion to 13-6.
Cullen threatened to rally after firing in an 11-dart break to reduce the arrears to 8-13, although his revival was short-lived, as Aspinall won back-to-back legs to cement his advantage.
The 32-year-old then made a sprint for the finish in the latter stages, defying a 124 checkout on the bull from Cullen with successive legs of 11 and 14 darts to seal his spot in the final
“We’ve got such a great opportunity to win one of the biggest tournaments in the sport, and I think it told in our performance,” admitted Aspinall, who averaged 95 and landed 11 maximums to progress.
“Joe didn’t play well and I was nowhere near my best, but I think I was just a little bit more clinical and that’s why I got over the line.
“I have lost my last three [televised] finals. I’m not going to do it again. I’m so confident.
“I have had a poor game tonight but I got over the line. I’m one happy guy right now, and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
World Matchplay 2023 Results
Saturday July 22
Semi-Finals
8pm-11pm
Nathan Aspinall 17-9 Joe Cullen
Jonny Clayton 17-15 Luke Humphries
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