09/10/2021

2021 World Grand Prix Final Preview: All-Welsh battle between Price and Clayton

The scene is set at the Morningside Arena in Leicester with Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton set to do battle in a fiery all-Welsh battle for the World Grand Prix title on Saturday evening.

Six days of action has led to this in the East Midlands city and despite many of the seeded players falling by the wayside especially early on in Michael van Gerwen, Peter Wright and Gary Anderson, it was two of the most in-form that have remained.

It sees the defending champion in Price take on the Premier League and Masters champion in Clayton who despite winning titles has yet to add a ranking major.

It is a final with multiple dynamics mostly on the side of Price with 'The Iceman' once again receiving heavy booing from the crowd all stemming from his match three years ago with Gary Anderson at the Grand Slam.

This was heightened against Stephen Bunting with Price after calling the crowd pathetic the night before having to rally after initially nearly not coming back on stage after going behind to 'The Bullet'.

While both players are also close friends off the oche and Clayton doesn't have the best record against his World Cup winning partner. This is a battle he will have to overcome to secure glory despite likely having most of the support of the crowd in attendance in Leicester.

Tournament centre 2021 World Grand Prix: Schedule, results, prize money breakdown and TV guide

In terms of their routes, Price has been easing through the motions without playing his best. Victories over Michael Smith (2-0), Mervyn King (3-1), Dave Chisnall (3-0) before that aforementioned scrap with Bunting have seen his average down turn over the course of the tournament from 100.82 down to 87.58 albeit with the crowd playing a factor.

While on the opposite end, Clayton has just gone about his business seeing off Callan Rydz (2-0), Jose de Sousa (3-1), Krzysztof Ratajski (3-2) and finally Danny Noppert (4-1). At times, it's been a doubling masterclass from the Ferret albeit with some counting errors creeping into his game but if he can defeat Price at anytime, he has to believe it can be now.

Whatever happens, both will remain friends but with double start glory at stake, who will emerge victorious in the end. It is an 8:30 BST start for their clash with the best of nine sets overall.