"It’s time for Luke Littler to start chasing me again": Jonny Clayton sends message after resuming lead atop Premier League Darts table

After ten of the sixteen nights in the regular phase of the Premier League Darts, Jonny Clayton leads the standings. “The Ferret” holds a three-point advantage over nearest chaser Luke Littler.

Clayton triumphed last Thursday in Brighton to claim his third nightly title of the season. The 51-year-old Welshman also made a strong move in the table. Not only does he now have a small lead over Littler, the fifth-placed player — Michael van Gerwen — is already twelve points adrift. The top four after the regular phase of the Premier League Darts qualify for the play-offs at the iconic O2 Arena in London.

In the final of Night Ten, Clayton edged Van Gerwen 6–5. “Yeah, 100 percent. But I thought the game was over at 5–2 up to Michael,” Clayton said to Sky Sports. “I think he missed something that gave me a chance. You know, you’ve got to take your chances, and probably that last leg was my best leg of the game. So, you know, they all count.”

“I’m through, back on top of the table, and it’s time for Luke Littler to start chasing me again. So yeah, nice to be back.”

Clayton started the Premier League Darts superbly with two nightly titles in the first six weeks. He then went out in the quarterfinals three nights in a row before bouncing back in Brighton.

“Yeah, it feels great, to be honest,” he said. “Like I always say, I know what it’s like to be here. I’ve got the experience. I know what you need to get to Finals Night, and you’ve just got to play like that.”

“You take your chances, you play half-decent, and you’ve got a good chance for week 17.”

Clayton also produced two crucial bullseye finishes on the night — one against Luke Humphries and another in the final.

“Yeah, I love the bullseye — that’s why I go for it! I’d never go for 18s,” he said. “But at the end of the day, I don’t mind the bullseye. Sometimes they go, sometimes they don’t, but obviously those two went in, so they win you legs.”