Clayton Clinches Pro Tour 12
Jonny Clayton claimed his first Players Championship title since 2021 after beating Josh Rock 8-5 in the Final of Pro Tour Event 12. The Ferret put in a good performance in Leicester as he prepares to head to the O2 Arena on Thursday night for Premier League Finals night, taking on compatriot Gerwyn Price in the Semi Finals.
Jonny started his afternoon with a whitewash victory over Karel Sedlacek, averaging nearly 110 in a 6-0 win over the Czech Republic international.
The former Grand Prix winner clinched a 6-5 victory over Winmau Team 360-star Julian van der Velde in the Second Round, with the youngster into his first year as a tour card holder.
Clayton went on to beat Belgium World Cup player Kim Huybrechts 6-1 in the Third Round before producing his second ton plus average of the day, claiming a 6-4 win over German youngster Pascal Rupprecht with a score off 107.40 in the Last 16.
The Welshman saw off Dutch Darts Championship winner Dave Chisnall 6-2 in the Quarter Finals before clinching a last leg decider in the Semi Finals against Damon Heta, winning 7-6 with an average off 103.45 to reach the Final.
Jonny would face a rematch of the recent Austrian Darts Open Final against Josh Rock in Leicester, with the Northern Irishman beating UK Open Champion Andrew Gilding 7-5 in the other Semi Final.
The Ferret found Double 8 with his second dart in hand to clinch an 8-5 win in the Final, getting on the board on the 2023 Pro Tour. Clayton came close last month after reaching the Semi Finals of Players Championship 9, losing to eventual winner Krzysztof Ratajski in Wigan.
Jonny will return to the oche this Thursday live on Sky Sports as the 2023 Premier League reaches its conclusion, facing table topper Gerwyn Price in the Semi Finals. It’s a repeat of the recent World Championship Final in the other match as Defending Champion Michael van Gerwen takes on World Champion Michael Smith at the O2 Arena.
By Harry Masterson
Players Championship 12: Results
Last 16:
Dave Chisnall 6-4 Dimitri van den Bergh
Jonny Clayton 6-4 Pascal Rupprecht
Damon Heta 6-4 Stephen Bunting
Chris Dobey 6-4 Rob Cross
Boris Krcmar 6-5 Scott Williams
Josh Rock 6-3 Michael van Gerwen
Andrew Gilding 6-4 Steve Lennon
Joe Cullen 6-3 Gerwyn Price
Quarter Finals:
Jonny Clayton 6-2 Dave Chisnall
Damon Heta 6-5 Chris Dobey
Josh Rock 6-5 Boris Krcmar
Andrew Gilding 6-3 Joe Cullen
Semi Finals:
Jonny Clayton 7-6 Damon Heta
Josh Rock 7-5 Andrew Gilding
Final:
Jonny Clayton 8-5 Josh Rock
By Harry Masterson
Images courtesy of PDC