Jonny Clayton has delivered a blunt assessment of the PDC's sweeping changes to the 2027 darts calendar, warning that the expanded schedule offers as many threats as it does opportunities for the sport's leading players. The PDC has announced larger fields and a brand-new televised tournament, giving players more chances to earn prize money while piling extra pressure on those at the top of the world rankings.
The headline changes will see the Players Championship Finals expand to 128 players next year, while the European Championship will feature a larger field of 48 players and run for two extra days. The calendar will also welcome a new tournament, the European Open in Salzburg, which will take place shortly after the World Cup of Darts.
Speaking to Oche180, Clayton acknowledged the extra tournaments will make an already busy calendar even more crowded. "Yeah, it does. But I'm only speaking for myself here," he replied. "If I want to stay where I am in the world rankings, I can't miss too many tournaments." According to the Welshman, the Players Championships are the events players are most likely to skip when they need a break — but doing so carries risks. "If you want to stay high up in the rankings, you have to do as much as you can. Having more darts added to the calendar gives you more opportunities to stay where you are. But it also gives the people chasing you a lot more opportunities to catch you."
Clayton does see a significant benefit in the expansion of the Players Championship Finals, believing the 128-player field offers a little more room to rest during the season. "Yes, there are more darts, but it does give you a little more leeway to pull out of one or two Players Championship events because the Players Championship Finals is expanding to 128 players. It gives you more opportunities to recharge your batteries, basically."
That does not mean Clayton plans to ease off. His competitive nature simply will not allow it. "It's different, but I want to stay where I am. I don't like losing. I don't show it on stage, but I respect everybody up there. Once I get off that stage, though, I'm different. I'm like something totally different." He admits defeats can affect him deeply, even if it is not always clear during a match. "I don't like losing. You've obviously seen that before. I'm passionate, and I'm very competitive." For Clayton, the conclusion is clear — despite the increasingly crowded calendar, his ambition remains undiminished. "So, if I want to stay where I am, I need to do as much as I can."
