Clayton eyes all-Welsh Cardiff Premier League final
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Jonny Clayton says it would be amazing to meet fellow Welshman Gerwyn Price in the final on night five of the Premier League Darts in Cardiff.
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'The Ferret' sits top of the standings after four weeks and is on the opposite side of the draw to Price in the Welsh capital.
Both Welshmen have won a night in this year's competition, with Price, 40, triumphing on night two in Antwerp and Clayton on night three in Glasgow.
"Two Welsh boys in the final, that would be amazing," said 51-year-old Clayton.
"Obviously Jonny Clayton picking up the trophy would be a little bit better!
"Hopefully we can do it, fingers crossed we meet in the final."
The Carmarthenshire native missed out on the previous two years of the Premier League, but says he is excited to return and play in Cardiff this time.
"I've been away from the Premier League for a couple of years now," Clayton told BBC Sport Wales.
"I'm back in and back in Wales playing, so that's all I want, my favourite tournament, my favourite city.
"There's no better support than the Welsh. There's only one major in Wales and it's the Premier League night, to be a part of that in front of your own crowd is fantastic."
Clayton admits having fan-backing for both himself and Price - often the target for booing in the past - will be unusual.
"It's going to be mental, it's going to be exciting, singing, chanting and they're all behind us for a change," he added.
"We're looking forward to this big time."
Taking aim at a Premier League double
Clayton won the Premier League title in his debut year in 2021, beating Portugal's Jose de Sousa 11-5 in the final, something he is looking to do again.
"All I can do is to go out and try to play my best darts and if I can carry on doing that I'm doing something right.
"If it's my campaign it'll be my campaign. Hopefully it is and I can be double Premier League champion."
With a highly competitive field of eight players which includes four world champions, you could be forgiven for not expecting the former plasterer to be top of the standings after four weeks.
Neither Luke Littler nor Luke Humphries have made the final in any of the four nights of action in 2026, despite being ranked number one and two in the world.
Clayton, however, has been the model of consistency in the 2026 tournament.
Winning his quarter-final match each week has ensured he has left with at least two points at each venue, the only player to have done so.
"I've been in the Premier League before so I know what you have to do," he said, "It's a bit of experience on my behalf.
"Points are so important whether it's just the two points or it's five points, if you can pick up two every week you'll be close at the end of the 16th week for the 17th week [play-offs]."
He says consistency week-on-week is really important.
"Picking up nightly wins is a massive bonus," added Clayton.
"I've got one under my belt, hopefully there is one Thursday night, and I can still be at the top when it comes to week 17."
Clayton takes on World Championship runner-up Gian van Veen in the quarter-finals on Thursday, with the pair splitting their past meetings.
"We're one win each but he's at my home in Wales so hopefully that will be to my advantage and Gian can experience the proper Welsh crowds.
"I'm looking forward to this, he's a great kid, a brilliant player and I'm sure it'll be a good game."
You can follow live text commentary from night four of the Premier League on Thursday on the BBC Sport website and app.
Thursday, 5 March - Utilita Arena, Cardiff
Quarter-finals
Michael van Gerwen v Luke Humphries
Gian van Veen v Jonny Clayton
Gerwyn Price v Stephen Bunting
Luke Littler v Josh Rock
Semi-finals
Van Gerwen/Humphries v Van Veen/Clayton
Price/Bunting v Littler/Rock
Final
Van Gerwen/Humphries/Van Veen/Clayton v Price/Bunting/Littler/Rock