11/07/2022

Dolan seals first title of 2022 with Players Championship 21 win over Clayton in final action before World Matchplay

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.

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.

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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.

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.