"I’m building towards my best form ever" - Jonny Clayton up to world number 5 as he continues strong start to 2025 with impressive Belgian Darts Open run

Jonny Clayton delivered yet another outstanding performance at the Belgian Darts Open this past weekend. For the fourth consecutive year, he reached at least the quarter-finals in Wieze. This year, however, his journey was cut short in the last eight with a 6-4 defeat to James Wade.

Clayton is particularly beloved by Belgian fans, and the admiration is mutual. "I absolutely love every second of being on stage in Wieze," Clayton told Het Nieuwsblad, flashing a smile. "I really have to thank this incredible crowd. Thanks to them, I was able to raise my game at just the right moments. It’s truly amazing to play in front of the Belgian crowd. I really do love them. It feels like I’m one of them. The support I get here is just unreal. I always look forward to playing in front of the Belgian fans."

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Thanks to a strong start to the year, Clayton has climbed to fifth place in the PDC Order of Merit. "I’m building towards my best form ever," he says. "That’s crucial, especially with the rise of players like Luke Littler. The standard in darts is higher than ever. The sport is growing rapidly, and it’s no longer just popular in the UK—it's thriving all over Europe and beyond, which means more emerging talents and, consequently, more competition."

"My confidence is fully back," he adds. "My new darts are flying beautifully, and more importantly, I’m throwing with a smile on my face. I’m enjoying the game and I’m happy with where I am right now. The signs are all good. Hopefully, it only gets better from here. I’m building for the future and working my way back to the level I need to be at to win a major."

Jonny "The Ferret" Clayton

World Cup of Darts

Looking ahead to the World Cup of Darts in June, Clayton believes that the Belgians could have a good chance. "Dimitri Van den Bergh is a top player. He proved that at the World Championship when he defeated me on his way to the semifinals. He won the World Matchplay and the UK Open. He’s a hard-working, friendly guy, and he has the experience on the World Cup stage," notes the Welshman. "Belgium will definitely be a dangerous team. With Mike De Decker, they’ve got another rising star. His Grand Prix victory was fantastic. They’re going to come out strong."

"But England is the team to beat," Clayton concludes. "They’re a powerful machine. The two Luke’s (Humphries and Littler) form a deadly duo. They’ll be incredibly hard to beat, but I hope ‘Gezzy’ (Price) and I can push them to the limit. We’re also among the top favourites, so we have to believe in ourselves. I think on the right day, we can beat them. It’ll come down to the little details and the form of the day."

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