Clayton recovers from set down to deny Van Duijvenbode, Wright holds off late revival to seal straight sets win over Huybrechts
PDC
Defending World Grand Prix champion, Jonny Clayton kicked off his title defence by recovering from a set down to see off Dirk van Duijvenbode 2-1.
ADVERTISEMENT
Clayton pounced after Van Duijvenbode seemingly had the crowd on his back and 'The Ferret' sealed it in the end to deny the 2020 finalist.
Clayton missed darts for a hold and Van Duijvenbode hit double 20 to go 1-0 up and followed it up on double 10 to hold and go one away.
Van Duijvenbode missed bull for a 128 checkout for the set as well as three darts for a whitewash set and Clayton saved his skin on double four. A 156 checkout saw Van Duijvenbode seal it though in the following leg.
Both held to begin the second set but Clayton hit 130 to go 2-1 up and one away and sealed it on double 18. A 180 was pinned by Van Duijvenbode but he missed a chance to break and Clayton returned to hold.
The crowd were getting on Van Duijvenbode’s back and Clayton broke on double 17 to go one away at 2-0. Double 10 was hit by ‘The Titan’ and he broke to send it all the way.
Clayton missed 105 for the match and Van Duijvenbode missed double 18 for a 111 and ‘The Ferret’ sealed it.
Read also
ADVERTISEMENT
While for Peter Wright, he denied a late revival from Kim Huybrechts to seal a straight sets win over 'The Hurricane'. This was with a 94 average and 55% on the doubles.
Wright hit double 20 to seal and opening hold and hit double four to go 2-0 up. But Huybrechts hit 70 to break back.
Huybrechts missed double 18 for 2-2 and Wright sealed the set on double nine. A 180 was hit by Huybrechts but he missed darts to hold and Wright picked his pocket on double 20 to go 1-0 up.
An 82 checkout saw Wright go to the brink at 2-0 up. He missed two darts at 76 for the match and Huybrechts hit 128 to hold and followed it up with a 101 checkout to make it 2-2.
A 147 checkout was missed on double 18 for the match for Wright but Huybrechts missed 107 to keep it alive and Wright hit double nine to seal it.
ADVERTISEMENT

Samuel GillChief Content Officer
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.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- Good, absolutely no loss if we never see this dancing goof ever again......no that is not fair. He absolutely cannot and has never been remotely able to dance!richieburnettrocks10-11-2026
- Yes Phil,now the money in the game is bigger than ever,you'd play littler. Well so would I! Retire on your memory Phil,and your successful careerrick6709-11-2026
- And why should he listen to you?Deduce635807-11-2026
- Ultimately it is a bye for whoever draws Barney. It will be another stroppy and sulky performance once he goes behind. Barney was excellent but really must completely call it a day now.richieburnettrocks07-11-2026
- I'm disappointed he was not able to secure a spot at the Grand Slam. With Carl Sneyd taking care of Daryl Gurney, he would have had to beat Andy Boulton before facing the winner of Sneyd vs Mensur Suljović for a Grand Slam spot. Unfortunately, after beating Filip Bereza comfortably, he succumbed to Boulton, and the board would ultimately be won by the highly inconsistent Carl Sneyd. Since he could instead have been drawn against the likes of Cristo Reyes, Dirk van Duijvenbode and Stephen Bunting, I think once Gurney was out of the picture he would have been favourite to win his board, and it seems like a massive missed opportunity to put 5 grand on his ranking and seal another major TV appearance ahead of the Worlds. The highs and lows of following Raymond van Barneveld!Deduce635806-11-2026
- Probably i will receive a lot of backlash and hate for this reaction, but well, so be it. I am more than sick and tired of those lies of you Barry Hearn. How dare you defend yourself over the back of Fallon’s son! He has a disability and not an illness, so let me correct that for you! I know because I have the exact same disability. I have tried to reach out to Fallon in the past, and offered her to help her and her son, because I was struggling with the same problems, and I understood the boy. I wanted him to have finally someone who understood him. However she told me that she did not want my help, and I have respected Fallon’s choice. I have never asked Fallon for money. They don’t need money in that case. I only ever wanted the best for Fallon and Rory, but I have to be honest about the situation. Fallon should tell the true story and not be forced to tell lies. I don’t hate Fallon, and I don’t begrudge or envy a single penny that she gets, but this situation/case is just not fair. I hate the lies and the dishonesty and injustice. I don’t want Fallon to be hated because there is an unfair disadvantage created. Don’t proclaim your false lies over the back of Rory! I only stand for integrity and justice. I am precisely the one who always sticks up for Fallon. And you don't, you don't give a damn about them. You were never there for them, and now you only want to save your own position! You are just trying to talk your way out of your own bad behavior at the expense of someone with a disability. And to Fallon, I don’t know if this may ever reach you, and you read it, but I want you to know I love you and I love your son Rory very much, I am sorry how things developed and went. I hope you and Harriet are still friends. I am sorry if I were too persistent to you, or you experienced it that way, but it was never my intention. Please understand I have autism as well. As Barry Hearn would say, I am only just a human being too, and I also make mistakes and misjudge things sometimes. I promise you I did everything out of the deepest love and care for you and Rory. If I were you, I should just keep all the money, only please never be dishonest or tell lies anymore for Barry Hearn, or anyone else. I hope you have the best life, and I wish nothing more than the best for you. I have always loved the two of you. Farewell.Hiddo05-11-2026
- She is a professional. If darts is her income, she is a professional. Same as Adrian Lewis, Martin Adams. A tour card just means someone can play on the PDC tour. You could even make a case that Clayton wasn't a professional (until recently I believe) because he had employment elsewhere.BandB04-11-2026
- She's technically not a professional though as she doesn't hold a pro tour card.mr-pablo04-11-2026
- Such a shame that lakeside has been reduced to this. Fantastic venue,and previously a great tournament. Not any morerick6703-11-2026
- Seems to me that the top 16 players pick and choose whatever they want to play. Good,all the money will get spread out more. They get more money from exhibitions than tournaments so let them all withdrawrick6703-11-2026







