Jonny Clayton don show say him na strong contender for di Premier League Darts title as him beat Luke Littler 6-4 for Rotterdam to extend him lead for top of di table. Di Welshman keep him cool during early blitz wey Littler bring for final and come through to claim back-to-back nightly wins and him fourth of di year.
Littler face boos throughout di night after him exchange with Dutch number one Gian van Veen for Manchester two weeks ago but him shrug am off reach final. But after beating Gerwyn Price for quarter-finals and holding off fight back from world number two Luke Humphries to win thrilling semi-final 6-5, Clayton prove say na challenge too far for di teenager.
Clayton now dey five points clear of second-placed Littler but di world champion get 11-point buffer to fifth and both men almost sure of place at O2 Arena for finals night on 28 May. “I no dey watch many games back but I watch last week game against Michael van Gerwen back and e hurt small when person say I be favourite to finish bottom – dat one really hurt and annoy me,” Clayton tell Sky Sports. “Dat one really hurt. I don dey here three times before and I don do finals night so I hope say I fit prove dem wrong. Definitely e don give me some fuel. Dem dey look some other people. Dem get wrong person.”
Clayton show him resilience throughout di evening as him beat home favourite Michael van Gerwen for quarter-finals and then battle past Josh Rock for last four. Him quickly go 2-0 down for final with Littler hitting four of him seven 180s to race into lead but di teenager no fit sustain dat level and Clayton claw him way back.
Clayton produce for key moments, show ruthless efficiency on doubles for 60% checkout rate. Dat one prove di difference with Littler hitting just four of him 15 darts at double. For contrast to hostile reception for Littler, Dutch duo Van Veen and Van Gerwen get roar from fans for Rotterdam stage. However, di pair no fit deliver for front of dia home crowd with Van Veen out of sorts against much-improved Humphries as di Englishman claim comfortable 6-2 win.
Dat one take defending champion above Van Veen into fifth and to within three points of Van Gerwen for final play-off place. Van Gerwen get chance to extend dat gap to five but him get swept aside by Clayton, 6-2 triumph for di Welshman leave Dutch fans stunned and keep race for top four for balance. If Humphries complete him comeback against Littler for semis, e fit be even tighter.
Stephen Bunting still get hope of qualifying despite 6-1 loss to Rock, where him find himself 4-0 down despite averaging 114 as result of Northern Irishman starting with four from four on doubles. Price stay third despite second quarter-final exit for two weeks. Rotterdam Ahoy quarter-finals see Luke Littler beat Gerwyn Price 6-3, Gian van Veen lose 2-6 to Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen lose 2-6 to Jonny Clayton, and Stephen Bunting lose 1-6 to Josh Rock. Semi-finals see Luke Littler beat Luke Humphries 6-5 and Jonny Clayton beat Josh Rock 6-5.
Premier League Darts dey play across 16 initial weeks for league stage with quarter-finals, semi-finals and final each night. Each of di eight players guarantee to face di other seven for quarter-finals for weeks one to seven and 9-15, with week eight and week 16 fixtures done off table. E mean say we go get fourth v fifth for Sheffield on final league-stage night, with play-off spots potentially on line.
Players earn two points per quarter-final win, additional point if dem win dia semi-final and five for winning di night. Top four players after group stage progress to play-off night at London O2 Arena on 28 May, with first facing fourth and second against third for best-of-19-leg match. Di final, wey be best of 21 legs, follow. If players dey level on points after 16 weeks then places dey decided by nights won and then matches won.
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