Premier League Darts: Jonny Clayton returns to high of desk after victory over Michael van Gerwen in Brighton

Jonny Clayton moved again to the highest of the Premier League desk with a 6-5 victory over Michael van Gerwen on Night time 10 in Brighton.

Clayton has usurped Luke Littler and Gerwyn Value by transferring onto 24 factors, with Littler second on 21 factors, and Value third on 19 factors.

By making it to his fourth nightly last, Van Gerwen moved again into the highest 4 on 16 factors.

It marks Clayton’s third nightly win of the 2026 marketing campaign and was an unbelievable comeback to clinch it.

After beginning the ultimate with a superb 140 checkout to maneuver 1-0 forward, the Welshman was beneath stress as Van Gerwen rattled off three legs in a row to maneuver 3-1 forward.

From there, Clayton acquired one other leg on the board however the Dutchman didn’t decelerate and with a slinky 12-dart leg moved 5-2 in entrance and regarded sure for victory.

Nevertheless, Clayton then mounted his struggle again and took 4 legs on the bounce, the spotlight when he clinched 84 on the bullseye to convey the sport stage.

Clayton was bullish following his win, declaring it’s as soon as once more time for Littler to chase him down.

“I thought the game was over. He missed and gave me a chance. We’ve got to take chances. The last leg was probably my best of the game but they all count, I’m through, back on top of the table and it’s time for Luke Littler to start chasing me again,” Clayton instructed Sky Sports activities.

“I know what it’s like to be here, I’ve got the experience, I know what it takes to get to Finals night. You’ve got to play darts, taken your chances, and if you play half-decent you’ve got a chance of playing on Night 17.

“I misplaced to Josh Rock final week, and the week earlier than. Final week’s recreation was sensible – Josh hit each double going. That places you beneath stress. I used to be simply searching for two factors coming into tonight, anything was a bonus. So to finish the evening again in high spot, with one other trophy for the cupboard is nice.”

Clayton’s path to the ultimate

Clayton avenged two Premier League defeats to Rock over the previous two weeks with a 6-4 victory to e book his spot within the last. It was additionally the win that moved him again on high and slenderly forward of Littler in second earlier than he elevated that margin together with his nightly win.

After racing 3-0 forward, Clayton managed to repeatedly hold Rock at arm’s size, the Northern Irishman’s struggle backs not sufficient because the Welshman discovered his doubling in the important thing moments to carry his throw and see out the sport.

Clayton snapped a three-week quarter-final shedding streak by inflicting a harmful 6-5 deciding-leg loss on Luke Humphries with a bullseye end.

Defending champion Humphries ended Night time 10 in seventh spot and is working out of alternatives to try to gather the factors he wants with a view to defend his title at Finals Night time.

MVG exhibits combating spirit

Van Gerwen got here by a tricky battle in opposition to birthday boy Stephen Bunting to clinch a 6-5 win and add extra important factors in his quest to make it again to Finals Night time.

It was not a basic between the world No 4 and No 7 and so, after two breaks a bit, the match was levelled at 5-5.

From there, the Dutchman raced away within the eleventh leg and on D8, made it into his fourth last of this 12 months’s Premier League.

In an all-Dutch conflict only one week out from Rotterdam, Van Gerwen got here away with a 6-4 received over Gian van Veen within the quarters.

The ‘Inexperienced Machine’ took the opening three legs in a row, together with a superb 127 checkout, earlier than Van Veen hit again with three legs of his personal. However, with two breaks of throw and a maintain, Van Gerwen acquired over the road because the match threatened to show scrappy.

Littler registers lowest ever TV averages after boos in Brighton

Bunting opened his evening with a 6-4 victory over an under-par Littler because the world champion registered his lowest common in a televised PDC occasion at 83.94.

The world No 1 began the competition by reacting to some loud boos he heard within the Brighton crowd, pointing to his ear and shrugging his shoulders, however after that, the competition was Bunting’s to lose from the opening leg with the gang proper on Littler’s again.

Certainly, whereas all eyes had been on Littler’s potential semi-final match up with Van Veen after their dramatic conflict in Manchester final week, the world No 1’s struggles in each division gave Bunting numerous alternatives to get on high which he ultimately took, that means ‘The Nuke’s’ rematch together with his rival by no means materialised.

Elsewhere, Rock started his night with a powerful 6-3 win over Value as he retains his factors tally ticking.

Value got here into the night in some kind after his Night time 9 win in Manchester, however Rock got here out trying assured after selecting up 4 out of 5 legs in a row, together with three breaks of throw, as he proved too robust for the ‘Iceman’.

Who will win this 12 months’s Premier League Darts? Luke Humphries might be defending his title and you may watch the motion each single Thursday till Might on Sky Sports activities. Stream darts and extra high sport with NOW.