Clayton reacts to first round draw against Brown at World Matchplay: 'To be honest there are no easy games'

Clayton spoke to the Metro about the draw and he said that there is no easy draws especially with 'The Needle' playing well at the minute. He also alluded to Glen Durrant and Jamie Hughes and said that he didn't want to get either player first round and that the field is stacked full of talent.

He added that he reckons there will be lots of upsets in the round and that it's become the case now that any player can throw the 100+ averages but that consistency is the difference.

‘There were obviously some I didn’t want to get first round – Glen Durrant, Jamie Hughes – but to be honest there are no easy games, Keegan Brown’s playing well and it’s going to be a toughie,’ said Clayton.

‘They are all dangerous. It’s one of the best tournaments, any of them can do well. ‘Glen Durrant is brilliant, you aren’t a three-time world champion for nothing, Jamie Hughes is class, [Krzysztof] Ratajski is proving every year what he can do. ‘There will be a few upsets in the first round I should think.

‘When I started, you had your standout players, but now anybody can do it. Your Gary Andersons or Michael van Gerwens are a bit more consistent, but we can all throw 100+ averages and that goes from number one to 64 and even further.

‘Darts is becoming massive, the competition is massive. Durrant, Hughes and Ratajski are down there in the rankings, but they won’t be there for long.’