Dolan seals first title of 2022 with Players Championship 21 win over Clayton in final action before World Matchplay
PDC
Brendan Dolan spoke after his victory over Jonny Clayton saying he has had a really bad year but going into the World Matchplay, he will have something to smile about sealing Players Championship 21 and his first title of 2022 in Barnsley.
ADVERTISEMENT
Dolan saw off Clayton 8-5 in the final and joins Dirk van Duijvenbode, Danny Noppert and Adrian Lewis as the victors this week in the final tournament before the Winter Gardens in a tie which could be seen again with the draw set to take place on Monday evening.
But it is a ninth career title for 'The History Maker' who adds potentially an important £12,000 also in his race for other tournaments this season.
Read also
Clayton sealed first blood in the tie with a 91 checkout for a hold. But Dolan started himself impressively to hold and make it 1-1. He broke throw with a last gasp double eight for a 67 checkout to make it 2-1.
Clayton missed 76 on double 20 to break back and Dolan picked his pocket to hold and make it 3-1. A 42 checkout going double double hitting double 11 saw Clayton make it 3-2. Dolan fluffed his lines on his throw following that and Clayton broke back with a 41 checkout to make it 3-3.
Clayton sat three darts at double 20 on the wire to hold though and Dolan hit a 52 checkout to get that break back at 4-3. He held on double 16 from there to make it 5-3.
He went two away and broke throw on double 20 to make it 6-3. Another superb leg to make it 85 after nine darts saw him miss double five to make it 7-3 and Clayton hit 138 to break back and make it 6-4 saw him make it 6-5.
ADVERTISEMENT
But Dolan kept his course hitting double 16 to make it 7-5. He slipped into single five from 170 though after Clayton himself missed a chance to hit it but Clayton chasing around the board to hold gave ‘The History Maker’ a shot at 102 pinning double 16.
Read also
Players Championship 21 Results
Last 16
Keegan Brown (98.69) 6 | 1 (87.89) Cameron Menzies
Brendan Dolan (84.63) 6 | 5 (87.18) Danny Noppert
Damon Heta (101.36) 6 | 3 (97.26) Krzysztof Ratajski
Mensur Suljovic (83.08) 6 | 1 (77.58) Nathan Rafferty
ADVERTISEMENT
Dave Chisnall (96.81) 6 | 4 (96.82) Michael Smith
Peter Wright (109.33) 6 | 2 (97.46) Niels Zonneveld
Jonny Clayton (96.40) 6 | 4 (99.02) Vincent van der Voort
Nathan Aspinall (91.66) 6 | 4 (91.73) Mickey Mansell
Quarter-Finals
Keegan Brown (87.84) 3 | 6 (91.01) Brendan Dolan
Damon Heta (95.59) 6 | 2 (89.65) Mensur Suljovic
Dave Chisnall (103.35) 6 | 4 (96.74) Peter Wright
Jonny Clayton (102.67) 6 | 3 (97.29) Nathan Aspinall
Semi-Finals
Brendan Dolan (96.67) 7 | 4 (98.22) Damon Heta
Dave Chisnall (94.25) 4 | 7 (99.62) Jonny Clayton
Final
Brendan Dolan (97.10) 8 | 5 (95.52) Jonny Clayton

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
- So what if littler missed out, he doesnt have to enter everythingant10-11-2026
- 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






