31/01/2021

Clayton sets up Masters final clash with King after superb deciding leg win over defending champion Wright

There will not only be a new winner at The Masters but a new PDC individual TV title winner as Jonny Clayton will face Mervyn King in the final of the season opener in Milton Keynes.

Clayton booked his spot after defeating the defending champion, Peter Wright in yet another deciding leg win for 'The Ferret' with a 104 average.

It will potentially as well see a straight shootout between the duo for the last Premier League spot which is set to be decided after The Masters.

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Clayton began superbly with a 76 checkout seeing 'The Ferret' head into a 2-0 lead and he followed that up with a 180 and an 86 checkout for a 12-darter to make it 3-0.

Wright got himself off the mark with a 64 checkout to make it 3-1 and at the interval, he was suddenly 3-2 behind despite Clayton having the opportunity to potentially be 5-0 up.

He did continue his brilliance though and Wright missed three darts going for two double 20's for an 80 checkout and Clayton returned for double two and a break to go 5-3 up.

A hold followed and Clayton was sitting at 6-3 up as he continued to build his lead. Wright held throw with a 72 checkout to make it 6-4 but needed to head into top gear to trouble the Welshman.

Clayton continued his momentum and pin double 12 to go 7-4 up with a hold of throw. A 107 checkout saw Wright keep pace with a hold himself with Clayton ready to pounce and break once more.

But he slipped missing three darts to hold and Wright suddenly had a chance to break throw but couldn't capitalise and Clayton returned for double four to go 8-5 up.

Wright held but he needed a vital break which he achieved heading into the next interval to go 8-7 behind. He held throw from there to make it parity at 8-8.

A clutch double three from Clayton saw some relief for the Welshman as he went 9-8 up. A 72 checkout for Wright with Clayton sat on double 12 saw a tense conclusion set up at 9-9.

Clayton held though to go towards the point of no return at 10-9 with Wright needing to force a decider with his throw.

He was first to a finish at 161 with Wright back at 180 but 'Snakebite' left 40 if he was to come back which he did pinning double 20 to hold his nerve.

Clayton smashed in his sixth maximum to head to the front on his throw in the decider. He left 62 with Wright just below a finish and pressuring with a 130 to 71.

Clayton handled the pressure though with a brilliant 62 checkout to claim the victory.