Niko Springer faces a daunting draw at his second consecutive European Championship, with Jonny Clayton standing between him and a first-round upset in Dortmund. Clayton, the seventh seed and world number five, arrives in Germany in fine form after winning the Swiss Darts Trophy in Basel just days ago. Springer has lost both of his previous meetings with the Welshman, including the 2025 Dutch Darts Championship final, 8–6. Here is a closer look at the 52-year-old right-hander.
Born on 4 October 1974 in Llanelli, Clayton grew up in the Welsh village of Pontyberem. He is married to his wife, Ellen, and has two children. His walk-on song is “Johnny B. Goode” by Chuck Berry, and he uses darts made by Red Dragon. Before taking the darts world by storm, Clayton played rugby, lining up at scrum-half for amateur club Pontyberem RFC and at times leading the team out as captain. It was there that his teammates gave him his nickname: “The Ferret” reflects his small stature and agility on the pitch.
For years, Clayton worked as a plasterer for Carmarthenshire County Council. Even after winning the 2020 World Cup of Darts alongside Gerwyn Price, he continued to go to work regularly, taking unpaid leave for tournaments and describing darts at the time as a lucrative hobby. He did not become a full-time professional until 2022. He first started playing in 1995, aged 21, and earned his PDC Tour Card at Qualifying School in 2015.
Clayton won four major titles in 2021 and celebrated each one with his father. John Clayton died in July 2023, shortly after his son’s World Matchplay final. The Welshman later spoke openly about wanting to give everything up and losing his passion for darts for a time, saying his father had been his biggest fan. Clayton fought his way back and is once again playing at the highest level.
His title in Switzerland has added further gloss to Clayton’s season, and he also won the 2026 New Zealand Darts Masters. At last year’s European Championship, his debut at the event, he lost 6–3 to Ryan Searle in the first round. He will be determined to put that right in Dortmund.
