Jonny Clayton claimed the Premier League Darts title on Friday night but for 'The Ferret', it was a tournament of chances as the Welsh council plasterer continued his rise in 2021.
Normally following the World Championship final, the Premier League names are announced but this was the start of the road for the 46-year-old.
The PDC only announced nine names with one more to be decided after The Masters. For Clayton, he wasn't really discussed as a forerunner with the likes of Dave Chisnall, Michael Smith and even Devon Petersen and Dirk van Duijvenbode seen as having a better chance.
But for the Welsh World Cup star, he saw a Masters chance. The field was extended to 24 players for this year to add further intrigue to the non-ranked tournament which starts a season and usually sees players tinker with new set-ups.
Clayton only got in as number 17 in the world so under normal circumstances, he wouldn't have been involved.
With victories over José de Sousa, Michael van Gerwen, James Wade, Peter Wright and Mervyn King, Clayton won the Masters. The latter was a straight shootout for the spot which Clayton only knew it was for after the match.
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He started well in the Premier League taking the lead after Night Five but dips in form meant he nearly missed a playoff berth on debut.
He had to win or draw against Dimitri van den Bergh and he completed the feat 8-6. Then Van Gerwen (10-8) and De Sousa (11-5) were defeated as he became the first player to finish fourth to win the Premier League taking every chance given to him along the way.
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