Jonny Clayton says it would be great to meet fellow Welshman Gerwyn Price in the final on night five of the Premier League darts tournament in Cardiff.
Four weeks later, the ‘Ferrets are top of the table and on opposite sides of a draw with Price in the Welsh capital.
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Both Welshmen have won one night in this year’s competition, with Price, 40, winning on night two in Antwerp and Clayton on night three in Glasgow.
“It’s great to have two Welsh boys in the final,” Clayton, 51, said.
“Obviously it would be better for Jonny Clayton to pick up the trophy!
“Hopefully we can do it and pray we can meet in the final.”
The Carmarthenshire native missed the previous two years of the Premier League but says he is delighted to be back playing in Cardiff this time around.
“I’ve been out of the Premier League for a few years,” Clayton told BBC Sport Wales.
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“I came back to play in Wales and that’s what I wanted, my favorite game, my favorite city.
“There’s no better support than Wales. Wales only have one Grand Slam and it’s a Premier League night and it’s great to be a part of it in front of your own fans.”
Clayton admitted it would be unusual for both he and Price to have support from fans who have been the target of boos in the past.
“It’s going to be spiritual, it’s going to be exciting, singing, chanting, they’re all supporting us to change,” he added.
“We look forward to this important moment.”
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Aiming for a Premier League Double
Clayton won the Premier League title on his debut in 2021, beating Portugal’s Jose de Sousa 11-5 in the final, something he will hope to do again.
“All I can do is go out and try to hit the best darts I can and if I can keep doing that I’m doing the right thing.
“If this is my campaign, that’s my campaign. Hopefully, I can be a double Premier League champion.”
With eight competitors competing, including four world champions, you might be forgiven for not expecting the former plasterer to be at the top of the standings four weeks later.
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Despite being ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the world respectively, neither Luke Littler nor Luke Humphreys reached the finals over the four nights of competition in 2026.
However, Clayton has been a model of consistency in the 2026 tournament.
Winning quarter-final matches every week ensures he scores at least two points in every venue, the only player to do so.
“I’ve played in the Premier League before so I know what you have to do,” he said. “It’s a bit of experience for me.
“Points are very important, whether it’s two points or five points, if you can get two points every week, you’ll be close to Week 17 at the end of Week 16 [play-offs]”.
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He said weekly consistency is important.
“Winning every night is a huge bonus,” Clayton added.
“I’ve got one of those down and hopefully I’ll have one on Thursday night and I’ll still be at the top by Week 17.”
Clayton will face world championship runner-up Gian van Veen in the quarterfinals on Thursday, with the pair having split their past meetings.
“We’ve won one game each but he’s at my home in Wales so hopefully that’s good for me and Gian can experience a real Welsh crowd.
“I’m looking forward to it, he’s a great kid, a great player and I’m sure it’s going to be a great game.”
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You can follow live text commentary from Thursday’s fourth night of Premier League action on the BBC Sport website and app.
Thursday 5 March – Utilita Arena, Cardiff
quarterfinals
Michael van Gerwen v Luke Humphreys
Gian van Veen v Jonny Clayton
Gwen Price v Stephen Bunting
Luke Littler v Josh Locke
semifinals
Van Gerwen/Humphreys v Van Veen/Clayton
Price/Bunting v Littler/Rock
final
Van Gerwen/Humphreys/Van Veen/Clayton v Price/Bunting/Littler/Rock
