Clayton keeps World Series Finals title dream alive after ending Littler’s clean-sweep hopes

JONNY CLAYTON insisted “you have to take your chances” after punishing Luke Littler’s nightmare on the doubles to end his clean-sweep bid.

The world No5 averaged 96.13 as he took advantage of Littler’s struggles on the outer ring, with the teen sensation converting just 19 per cent of his attempts in a 10-4 World Series Finals quarter-final defeat.

Littler, 19, had won the previous SIX major tournaments he entered, but his bid of claiming all eleven has now come to an end.

The Ferret is now targeting a fifth major title and his first PDC crown of the season after falling short in two ProTour finals and finishing runner-up at the Belgian Darts Open.

Clayton admitted Littler was not at his best but insisted he had to punish every opportunity that came his way.

He said: “I just thought in the practice room in the back, go out and try your best. What a player. He wasn’t full flowing there.

“I understand that. But you have to take your chances. Luke missed a lot of darts on doubles and outs.

“That is the name of the game. You have to take your chance when it comes to it.

“I did that today somehow. Brilliant. The last dart on a double hurts whoever you play against.

“It puts pressure on the player. That’s what counts, it makes them think more.

“All the respect goes to Luke, he is fantastic. That last leg there, he just missed and I was like, oh my god.

“He just gave me chances and chances. That’s not the Luke Littler we all know, but Jonny Clayton can play darts as well.

“I loved it. Luckily, I have had enough experience against Luke in the Premier League.

“I know what he’s about. I know what I am about. We play darts, nothing else.

“We try and keep the crowd happy and play our best. It was my night.”

Both players were locked at 3-3 before Clayton capitalised on Littler’s missed doubles and produced a classy 124 checkout to help surge into an 8-4 lead.

Littler then missed NINE darts at double to move 9-4 ahead before sarcastically applauding the crowd as the whistles rang out, with Clayton punishing the costly misses to move 9-4 in front.

Clayton then held his nerve in the final leg, taking out D20 to seal the deal.

He returns to action this evening and will face Gerwyn Price in the semi-final at Amsterdam.

Words: Aaron Nijjar