Jonny Clayton has shared the one tournament that he’s really missed playing in during 2024.
The Ferrett made a welcome return to form at the Dutch Darts Championship over the weekend – losing in the final to Josh Rock.
He’s been on a downward spiral in recent months but played some good darts over the weekend in the Netherlands.
Clayton beat defending champion Dave Chisnall at the first hurdle and then knocked out Ryan Searle in the quarters.
He then overcame Michael van Gerwen in the semi-final before being ousted by Rock who won his first Europan Tour title.
Now, Clayton has named the one tournament that he’s missed playing in during 2024.
Jonny Clayton names the one tournament he’s missed playing in
It won’t come as a surprise that the one that Clayton has really hated missing out on is the Premier League.
Clayton is currently the number eight in world darts but last season’s performances weren’t enough to earn him a place.
The frustrating aspect for the 49-year-old will be that he’s a former winner of the Premier League – taking glory in 2021.
Now, he’s shared that he’s going to be working hard to try and win back his place during the weekly event.
He told Online Darts: “I’m up there to try and win for my supporters and my family. It’s a nice feeling when you’re up there when you’re winning and things are going your way.
“I want those times back and I’m going to work hard to get those times back. I want to get back in the Premier League and I’ve missed it terribly this year.
“This year there were better players than me in there and I want to prove to people that I deserve to be there. Hopefully I can get back.”
Clayton has quality but he needs to step things up further
The Welshman is capable of beating the top players but given the quality in today’s game, he needs to step things up even further.
Clayton has won The Masters, the World Grand Prix, the World Series of Darts and also the Premier League.
He’s also reached finals at the Players Championship and the World Matchplay so the big tournaments aren’t seemingly an issue for him.
If he’s going to get his place in the Premier League back, he must up his game at the World Championship.
He was obliterated 4-0 by Rob Cross in the fourth round in 2024 and lost to Dimitri Van Den Bergh in the quarters the year before.
Clayton has never been beyond the last eight of that event and correcting that would definitely place him on the right path in terms of the Premier League.