LITTLER CHASING DOWN CLAYTON IN PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE RACE

LUKE LITTLER has warned Jonny Clayton he is “chasing him” down in the Premier League.

The world No.1 has topped the table in the major tournament over the last two seasons heading into Finals Night at the O2. 

But the teenage sensation sits two points behind The Ferret this campaign, remaining second in the standings with four weeks still to play.

Littler and Clayton are the only two players to have recorded four nightly wins in this year’s competition. 

The pair are locked in to meet in the quarter-finals at Birmingham in just over two weeks. 

Littler is looking to maintain his impeccable record of leading the pack before the play-offs commence. 

He said: “I’m going to be chasing him now. 

“I don’t really want to be. I want to be at the top, cruising. I want to be at No1, so I’m going to go chasing. 

“There’s still four weeks to play for. And yeah, I’m going to chase him.

“I want to finish first. That’s my main goal. If my game’s there, then obviously I can jump above Jonny.

“I don’t know how many times we can meet in the first round with the rest of the season to go. 

“Obviously I’m going to have to beat him in the semi-finals or even finals. 

“These nightly wins, they’re crucial to get to the O2. I can say I’m there, but I want top spot first. 

“If people start getting the better of you, then going into the next game, you’re obviously in their head or whatever.” 

Clayton leads the head-to-head in the major tournament, having won three of his five meetings with Littler. 

There is also a remarkable 32-year age gap between the two, with Littler just 19 and Clayton 51, a contrast that has seen the Welshman jokingly dubbed the “grandad” of the group.

Image by Taylor Lanning.