CLAYTON ADMITS TO DISAPPOINTMENT AT PREMIER LEAGUE SNUB
27/05/2025 By Aaron Nijjar
JONNY CLAYTON admits he was “disappointed” to miss out on Premier League selection.
‘The Ferret’ clinched his third European Tour crown with an 8-6 victory over Niko Springer in the final of the Dutch Darts Championship on Sunday.
It capped off a red-hot run for Clayton, who also scooped the Players Championship 14 in Rosmalen last month.
World No. 5 Clayton has now won 10 ProTour titles.
The Welshman admits being overlooked for this year’s Premier League line-up – is something that still stings.
He said: “I was disappointed I wasn’t in because I was up in the rankings and I thought I had a good chance.
“I know how this game works. You have to knucke down and work hard at it.
“By saying things on social media and in the heat of the moment does not help it.
“I just tried to do the talking with my darts and so far it is going okay.
“So hopefully it carries on.
“As Welsh number one I knocked Gezzy off the top spot for Wales number one.
“But listen It’s a business I just have to prove myself that I should have been there.
“Hopefully the end part of this year I can do that If not I have no chance for next year.”
On Thursday, Price will go for glory in the Premier League finals – and Clayton believes his fellow compatriot could lift the trophy.
He revealed: “I’ve got a sneaky feeling Gezzy might take the Premier League on Thursday night.
“He’s on great form and the first game between him and Luke Littler – that’s where I think the winner comes from.”
With the World Cup of Darts around the corner, there’s added intrigue over who will lead the Welsh charge, now that Clayton has leapfrogged ‘The Iceman’ in the rankings.
He joked: “As for the World Cup, I hope Gezzy plays – and he can still be captain even though I’m Welsh number one.
“He is a great front runner and I play well behind him. So hopefully we can challenge the English.”
Four-time major winner Clayton boasts the second the second-highest checkout percentage (44.83%) on tour this year.
The 50-year-old nearly added another major to his tally after reaching the final of the Winmau World Masters in February.
Image by Taylor Lanning.
