Welsh stars Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton go head-to-head for the right to be crowned 2021 World Grand Prix champion in Leicester on Saturday.
Close friends become enemies on the oche as the World Cup team-mates collide in a bid to claim the £110,000 top prize at the Morningside Arena.
Price is out to become only the third player in the 23-year history of the tournament, behind Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen, to successfully retain the title.
Having lost in the opening round in three of his first five Boylesports World Grand Prix appearances, Price has now seemingly mastered the double-start format and has defied a torrid reception from the crowd.
The world number one, winner of back-to-back European Tour events last month, began the week by defeating Michael Smith in straight sets with a 100.8 average, before recovering from a set down to beat Mervyn King 3-1.
He then powered past Dave Chisnall 3-0 in the Last Eight, before battling back from two sets behind to reel off four in a row and defeat Stephen Bunting in Friday’s Semi-Finals.
The reigning World Champion was far below his best, but showed true grit to dig deep and turn the match on its head despite a recurring elbow problem and the majority of the crowd on his back.
Clayton had won just one match in three previous World Grand Prix appearances but has seemingly gotten to grips with the unique double-start format with a double-in and double-out rate of around 50 per cent.
The Welsh star recorded successive averages of 95 in overcoming Callan Rydz and Grand Slam champion Jose De Sousa, before edging out Krzysztof Ratajski 3-2 in a tense Quarter-Final.
He then pulled off a dominant 4-1 victory over Danny Noppert in the Semi-Finals to move through to a first PDC major ranked final since the 2017 Players Championship Finals.
Clayton is aiming to add this prestigious title to his Masters and Premier League triumphs this year, and by doing so would enter the world’s top eight for the first time.
The final gets under way from 8.30pm BST and will be contested over the best of nine sets.
All Sets are the best of five legs and there will be no tie break in any Set. All legs must begin and end with a double, meaning that a player must hit a double before he can begin scoring in each leg.
Price vs Clayton – Player’s View:
Price: “We’re both going to have to play well to win.
“Jonny’s played fantastic all tournament. If he plays like he has been all week then I’m going to really have to up my game.
“If I’m going to lose, I couldn’t lose to a better player.
“It’s going to be a tough game but hopefully I can play a lot better, because I need to.”
Clayton: “It’s just an awesome feeling, I’m over the moon. I came here tonight to reach the final and I’ve done it – it’s absolutely fantastic for me.
“I feel comfortable up on that stage, I’m enjoying every second and the crowd are fantastic.
“The fan’s favourite and the darts are totally different, I have to produce my best game.
“It’s not over yet, I’ve got another day to go and I’m looking forward to the final.”
A live stream of Price vs Clayton will be available from 8.30pm BST to watch live on desktop, mobile or tablet devices in selected regions.
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