Jonny Clayton produced a hattrick of sensational displays to move top of the Premier League table with Night Three glory in Glasgow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clayton delivered a series of statement displays on Scottish soil, overcoming Gerwyn Price, Luke Littler and Gian van Veen to clinch the \u00a310,000 nightly prize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 2021 champion halted his ten-match losing run against Price in the quarter-finals, pinning six of his ten attempts at double to topple his World Cup partner for the first time since March 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clayton then continued his charge with a ruthless 6-1 success against Littler, averaging 101 to condemn the world number one to his joint-heaviest defeat on the Premier League stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This set up a fascinating showdown in Thursday’s showpiece against World Championship runner-up Van Veen, who ran out a 6-4 winner when the pair went head-to-head in the Night One semi-finals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the Welshman avenged that defeat with a thumping 6-2 victory over the European Champion, averaging 104.35 to triumph at the OVO Hydro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clayton won the opening two legs in just 28 darts, and although Van Veen hit back to reduce the arrears to 3-2, the 51-year-old made a sprint for the finish, wrapping up the night with a majestic 156 finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“When your finishing goes well the confidence is up, and tonight was my night,”\u00a0reflected Clayton, who also claimed the nightly spoils in Glasgow in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I’m enjoying myself, and when you enjoy what you’re doing, things seem to happen for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I’ve got a bit of experience in the Premier League. This is my favourite tournament, and I know what you’ve got to do to get to Finals Night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Hopefully this is going to be a push in the right direction. I’m doing alright so far!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clayton’s victory has seen him surge to the top of the table, overhauling seven-time champion Michael van Gerwen, who withdrew from tonight’s action due to a medical issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Van Veen occupies third spot in the table, having advanced to a second nightly final in three weeks with impressive victories over Stephen Bunting and Luke Humphries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dutchman opened Thursday’s proceedings with a terrific 6-3 success against Bunting, averaging 104.36 to inflict a third consecutive quarter-final exit on the former Masters champion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Van Veen then fought back from 3-1 down to stun Humphries in the semi-finals, defying a 103 average and seven 180s from the reigning champion, after surviving two match darts in the decider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Humphries delivered the performance of the night in his quarter-final contest against Josh Rock, averaging almost 106 to extend the Northern Irishman’s winless start to the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rock will aim to open his Premier League account when the Premier League roadshow rolls into Belfast next Thursday, as the 24-year-old takes centre stage on home soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rock will take on Van Veen in a battle of the Premier League newcomers, while league leader Van Gerwen returns to action against 2023 runner-up Price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Littler will seek revenge on Clayton in the evening’s opener, before Bunting sets his sights on a first win of the campaign against Humphries. Semi-Finals<\/strong> Final<\/strong> Jonny Clayton produced a hattrick of sensational displays to move top of the Premier League table with Night<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9656,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[59],"class_list":["post-9655","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsbeat","tag-darts"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
<\/strong>
RESULTS<\/strong>
Quarter-Finals<\/strong>
Gian van Veen 6-3 Stephen Bunting
Luke Humphries 6-2 Josh Rock
Luke Littler BYE (Michael van Gerwen withdrew)
Jonny Clayton 6-3 Gerwyn Price<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gian van Veen 6-5 Luke Humphries
Jonny Clayton 6-1 Luke Littler<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jonny Clayton 6-2 Gian van Veen<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a> <\/td> NW<\/strong><\/td> MW<\/strong><\/td> L<\/strong><\/td> +\/-<\/strong><\/td> Legs Won<\/strong><\/td> LWAT<\/strong><\/td> Pts<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Jonny Clayton<\/td> 1<\/td> 5<\/td> 2<\/td> +15<\/td> 39<\/td> 17<\/td> 9<\/td><\/tr> Michael van Gerwen<\/td> 1<\/td> 5<\/td> 1<\/td> +7<\/td> 33<\/td> 14<\/td> 8<\/td><\/tr> Gian van Veen<\/td> 0<\/td> 4<\/td> 3<\/td> +1<\/td> 35<\/td> 11<\/td> 6<\/td><\/tr> Gerwyn Price<\/td> 1<\/td> 3<\/td> 2<\/td> +1<\/td> 26<\/td> 10<\/td> 5<\/td><\/tr> Luke Humphries<\/td> 0<\/td> 2<\/td> 3<\/td> -1<\/td> 24<\/td> 8<\/td> 4<\/td><\/tr> Luke Littler<\/td> 0<\/td> 1<\/td> 3<\/td> -7<\/td> 15<\/td> 7<\/td> 4<\/td><\/tr> Stephen Bunting<\/td> 0<\/td> 0<\/td> 3<\/td> -9<\/td> 9<\/td> 4<\/td> 0<\/td><\/tr> Josh Rock<\/td> 0<\/td> 0<\/td> 3<\/td> -12<\/td> 6<\/td> 2<\/td> 0<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"