Jonny Clayton has resumed his position atop the Premier League Darts table after ten of the sixteen nights in the regular phase, sending a direct message to his nearest rival. "The Ferret" now holds a three-point advantage over Luke Littler, with fifth-placed Michael van Gerwen already twelve points adrift. The top four after the regular phase qualify for the play-offs at the iconic O2 Arena in London.
Clayton triumphed last Thursday in Brighton to claim his third nightly title of the season, edging Michael van Gerwen 6-5 in a dramatic final. "Yeah, 100 percent. But I thought the game was over at 5-2 up to Michael," Clayton told Sky Sports. "I think he missed something that gave me a chance. You know, you've got to take your chances, and probably that last leg was my best leg of the game. So, you know, they all count." The Welshman then added: "I'm through, back on top of the table, and it's time for Luke Littler to start chasing me again. So yeah, nice to be back."
The 51-year-old started the Premier League superbly with two nightly titles in the first six weeks before going out in the quarterfinals three nights in a row, making his Brighton bounce-back particularly significant. "Yeah, it feels great, to be honest," he said. "Like I always say, I know what it's like to be here. I've got the experience. I know what you need to get to Finals Night, and you've just got to play like that. You take your chances, you play half-decent, and you've got a good chance for week 17."
Clayton's victory was highlighted by two crucial bullseye finishes on the night—one against Luke Humphries and another in the final. "Yeah, I love the bullseye—that's why I go for it! I'd never go for 18s," he explained. "But at the end of the day, I don't mind the bullseye. Sometimes they go, sometimes they don't, but obviously those two went in, so they win you legs."
