Jonny Clayton secures back-to-back Premier League Darts weekly titles in Birmingham
Jonny Clayton made it back-to-back weekly titles in the 2023 Premier League after edging past Peter Wright in a deciding leg to prevail on Night Ten in Birmingham.
Fresh from his brilliant Berlin triumph seven days ago, Clayton extended his winning run in the Premier League to six games as he catapulted himself up to third in the table.
The Welshman claimed the spoils in Birmingham 12 months ago, and he repeated the feat at the Utilita Arena to strengthen his push for Play-Off qualification.
Clayton began Thursday’s action with a 6-4 victory over Nathan Aspinall, repeating his Night Four win over the Stockport star to move to within a point of the top four places.
The 2021 champion then sealed his place in Thursday’s showpiece by dumping out Michael van Gerwen for a second successive week, as the Dutchman paid the price for missed doubles.
This set up an intriguing showdown against 2017 runner-up Wright – who returned to form to reach his first weekly final of this year’s competition.
The opening four legs went with throw, before Wright struck the first blow, pinning double eight to break after Clayton wired the bull for a 122 checkout.
The Welshman capitalised on two missed darts at double from Wright to restore parity, and the sequence of breaks continued until Clayton moved to the brink of victory at 5-4.
Wright forced a decider after surviving a match dart at the bull, but the roles were reversed in the last leg as the Scot missed the same target for victory, and Clayton capitalised to seal the deal on double 20.
“It feels fantastic. Two weeks ago I was seventh, and now I’m third!” reflected Clayton.
“I think Birmingham brings the best version of The Ferret out! I love playing in these massive arenas with brilliant crowds, and I’ve got a big smile on my face right now.
“I’m confident I can make the Play-Offs, but it will still be a hard task. I think I’m good enough to be there, but there are eight players chasing the same dream.
“The game against Nathan was massive. That put me a point behind him so it was really important to close the gap, and now I’ve won the night. It’s brilliant.”
Wright travelled to Birmingham with just one win to his name, but doubled his tally courtesy of a 6-1 rout of reigning World Champion Michael Smith.
The Scot then booked his place in a first weekly final of the campaign after a deciding-leg win over Gerwyn Price, defying a stirring comeback from the Welshman to triumph with a 97 average.
In the evening’s opening Quarter-Final, Van Gerwen defeated Chris Dobey 6-2 in a high-quality affair which saw both players average over 106.
Dobey whitewashed the Dutchman in their last meeting on Night Seven, but Van Gerwen avenged that defeat in emphatic style, landing five 180s and firing in a 125 checkout to wrap up victory.
In-form Price fended off a spirited rally from Dimitri Van den Bergh to prevail in a last-leg thriller, advancing with a 102 average before posting another three-figure average in defeat to Wright.
Premier League Darts 2023 Night Ten Results
Thursday April 6
Quarter-Finals
Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Chris Dobey
Nathan Aspinall 4-6 Jonny Clayton
Dimitri Van den Bergh 5-6 Gerwyn Price
Peter Wright 6-1 Michael Smith
Semi-Finals
Michael van Gerwen 3-6 Jonny Clayton
Gerwyn Price 5-6 Peter Wright
Final
Jonny Clayton 6-5 Peter Wright
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