CLAYTON ENDS PRICE HOODOO TO WIN PREMIER LEAGUE NIGHT THREE

JONNY CLAYTON admitted breaking his Gerwyn Price hoodoo was a “big thing” after sealing Premier League Night Three success.

World No. 5 Clayton snapped a run of 10 straight defeats to Price as he stormed to an impressive 6-3 triumph in the quarter-finals.  

‘The Ferret’ thrashed an out-of-sorts Luke Littler 6-1 in the semi-finals, averaging a superb 101.33 and nailing six of his nine attempts at double. 

Clayton averaged a stellar 104.35 and whacked in a 156 checkout to demolish Gian van Veen 6-2 in the final at Glasgow. 

The four-time major winner climbed to the top of the table and pocketed the £10,000 top prize.

He said: “I felt good tonight, didn’t expect the 6-1 against Luke I have to be honest but I felt good and my darts were going, when your finishing is good the confidence goes up and tonight was my night. 

“I’m enjoying myself, when you enjoy what you’re doing things seem to happen. I have a bit of experience in this tournament, it’s my favourite and I know what I have to do to get to finals night.

“I don’t like that I’m the oldest in the practice room, miles ahead! It’s nice to see different faces, the young guns, that’s the future of our game. I’m enjoying myself and have to concentrate on myself and not them. 

“I just enjoy it, I really enjoy it. Stadiums like this, the crowd is fantastic, it’s where you want to be.” 

Clayton revealed beating close pal Price lifted a weight off his shoulders as he reflected on his big win. 

He added: “If I don’t succeed today I’ll try again tomorrow. When you take your chances it makes a difference. To get Gezzy off my back was a big thing for me, I could relax after that. Then I played the world No 1 and things went my way. 

“I had a chance last week (to beat Gezzy) and couldn’t finish it, and it’s in the back of my mind when I’m going to beat my buddy. We’re great friends, he’s a brilliant darts player and you have to be at the top of your game. Tonight was my night.” 

Van Veen denied Stephen Bunting his first points of the night, firing in a superb 104.36 average to seal a 6-3 victory. 

The Dutchman survived two match darts and battled back from 3-1 down to edge Luke Humphries in a thrilling last-four showdown.  

Humphries swept aside Josh Rock in his opener, producing a brilliant 105.95 average to cruise to a 6-2 win. 

Quarter-finals 

Stephen Bunting 3-6 Gian van Veen 

Luke Humphries 6-2 Josh Rock 

Michael van Gerwen v Luke Littler (bye) – Van Gerwen withdraws due to medical issue 

Jonny Clayton 6-3 Gerwyn Price 

Semi-finals 

Van Veen 6-5 Humphries 

Littler 1-6 Clayton 

Final 

Van Veen 2-6 Clayton

Image by Taylor Lanning.