Clayton was 6-4 down but sealed six out of the last seven legs as he will now look to topple another Dutchman next in Dirk van Duijvenbode this evening.
Clayton was superb to start the tie as he went 3-1 up on Van Gerwen with an 11-darter but MVG got a pivotal let-off as he pounced on five missed darts at double to leave it poised at 3-2.
From there, he returned and sealed four consecutive legs going 6-4 up and looked to have the impetus but the finger point from Clayton marked the start of a surge.
He pinned his classic 121 checkout on the bull after Van Gerwen had gone six darts into a nine-dart finish and Clayton made it 6-5.
Three legs on the spin saw Clayton break throw to edge ahead at 7-6 and taking out 94, he was soon one away from the win at 9-6. He missed two match darts and Van Gerwen saved his skin with a 114 checkout to make it 9-7.
Van Gerwen produced a 174 to leave double 12 but was hoping Clayton didn't pin 80 for the win but 'The Ferret' didn't give him a chance sealing a brilliant win.
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
CLAYTON BEATS MVG! 🏴
What a match. What a performance! 🔥
Jonny Clayton wins six of the last seven legs to dump out Michael van Gerwen on home soil!
📺 bit.ly/WSF22WatchLive#WSODFinals