Defending champion Clayton on challenging World Grand Prix format: "It separates the men from the boys"

Jonny Clayton will return to the site of his World Grand Prix triumph twelve months ago this evening when he faces Dirk van Duijvenbode on Monday evening in a tough first round assignment in Leicester.

Clayton is hoping to defend his title and said that the format is a challenging one and one which players cannot hide from in terms of form.

“There are not many people that have defended the World Grand Prix and I’d love to join that list, so fingers crossed it’s going to happen again,” said Clayton.

“The double-in double-out format is challenging, but it separates the men from the boys.

“I’ve had an up and down season, but hopefully things are starting to fall into place.

“I would love to break into the world’s top five by the end of the year, and the only way I can do that is by concentrating hard on the ranking events at the back end of the season.”