“I’ve got the runners-up trophy at home, now we’ve got a champions trophy” – Jonny Clayton gets revenge on Gerwyn Price in New Zealand Darts Masters final
PDCSaturday, 15 August 2026 at 14:00
Jonny Clayton beat Gerwyn Price 8-4 in Auckland to win the 2026 New Zealand Darts Masters, reversing the result of their 2022 final and claiming the second World Series title of his career.
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Clayton had been outstanding on the doubles throughout the deciding session and carried that form into the final, racing into a 7-1 lead before Price cut the deficit to 7-4. Three missed match darts from Clayton allowed Price to stay alive, before an unusual decision on 110 handed the 2022 champion another chance to close the gap.
The Ferret eventually settled matters with a 124 checkout on the bull, having opened the deciding leg with five perfect darts.
“It’s a great feeling,” Clayton told the PDC afterwards. “Second time back, obviously New Zealand, I’m grateful to be back and to win. It’s a fantastic feeling.”
Clayton turns 2022 disappointment into Auckland title
The victory carried an extra layer of satisfaction for Clayton after his defeat to Price in the 2022 final, when he had been forced to settle for second place in Hamilton. “Yeah, well, I’ve got the runners-up trophy at home, now we’ve got a champions trophy,” he said. “We’re rugby boys in the home of rugby, so love it.”
His finishing had been a major feature of the entire evening. Clayton converted six of seven doubles in his quarter-final victory over Gian van Veen, then hit seven from ten in a dominant 7-2 semi-final win over James Wade.
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That continued into the final. Clayton took out 55 in the opening leg, broke immediately afterwards and then produced a 158 checkout to move 3-0 ahead. By the interval he led 5-1 and had still not missed a dart at double. “I played okay up there tonight, so my finishing helped me out,” he admitted.
Price eventually dragged the score back from 7-1 to 7-4, helped by a rare lapse from Clayton when the leader chose not to go for the bull after setting it up from 110. “To be fair to Gez, he was laughing,” Clayton recalled. “He was saying, ‘What are you doing on that 50?’ I wasn’t concentrating. I didn’t expect to be that far ahead.”
Clayton could laugh about it afterwards, adding: “It doesn’t matter about that 50, I pinged the right one at the end.”
CLAYTON CLINCHES AUCKLAND CROWN! 🏆
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) August 15, 2026
What a performance from Jonny Clayton! 👏
The Ferret celebrates his second World Series of Darts title with an 8-4 victory over his fellow countryman Gerwyn Price! #NZDarts | Final
📺 https://t.co/bcLPJNSIRY pic.twitter.com/KWbkED8B1T
Clayton admits concentration slipped during Price fightback
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The missed opportunity on 110 was part of a brief wobble after Clayton had moved to within a single leg of the title at 7-1. Price won three successive legs as five Clayton match darts went begging, and the eventual champion admitted his focus had dipped.
“I lost a bit of concentration, to be honest,” Clayton said. “I was just waiting for Gez to come back into the game. I just didn’t expect to be that far ahead against Gerwyn Price. To be fair, I lost a little bit of concentration, but in the end I came back, and thank God for that.”
Clayton closed it out by opening the 12th leg with five perfect darts before taking out 124 on the bull.
The victory gives Clayton his second World Series title and sends him to the Australian Darts Masters with the chance to go back-to-back on the 2026 circuit. “I’d love to,” he said of the prospect of winning again in Wollongong. “I’d love to go back-to-back. You know, so back-to-back on this World Series, and back-to-back on the Australian for me. So, yeah, can’t wait.”
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Clayton will head to Wollongong with 20 points on the World Series Order of Merit after his Auckland victory, four behind Price and 12 behind leader Michael van Gerwen.
"I'd love to go back-to-back!"
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) August 15, 2026
Jonny Clayton on the hunt for the Oceanic clean sweep after storming to the title in Auckland!#NZDarts
📺 https://t.co/bcLPJNTgHw pic.twitter.com/krffqGa3xB
Kieran WoodDarts Journalist
In his reporting, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles when new, verified information becomes available.
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