“Jonny Clayton is the most relaxed darts player at elite level” – Premier League leader’s mindset draws widespread praise
PDC
According to former professional darter Matt Edgar, Jonny Clayton ranks among the mentally strongest players at the highest level. The world number five has already impressed this season with a win on Night 3 of the Premier League Darts and a quarter-final spot at the World Championship.
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Edgar believes the key to the Welshman’s success lies above all in his mindset on stage. While many top players chase marginal gains to perfect their game, Clayton remains strikingly relaxed.
“The thing that helps Jonny Clayton is his mind and mentality. If you are talking about Luke Humphries, who says, ‘Right, I want to find that one percent more so I can control things.’"
According to Edgar, Clayton stands out precisely because he barely feels any pressure. “Jonny Clayton is the most relaxed darts player at elite level you will ever find," Edgar told OLBG.
The analyst shared an anecdote to illustrate his point. “I literally was in a taxi with him for about thirty minutes the other day and all I heard from him was that darts is just a hobby and a pastime."
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Edgar sees Clayton as part of a generation of darters who primarily play for enjoyment. “To him, he is just the last of a pub generation of, ‘I play darts, it’s a good laugh. I enjoy myself and, oh, I just happen to be good at it.’”
Edgar even thinks Clayton doesn’t fully grasp how big his status within the sport has become. "He doesn't realise how good he is, or his position in the world. He doesn’t realise how important and big a role he plays in the world of darts. To him, he is like, ‘Oh, this is great and it is fun.’”
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Welsh success in Premier League
Clayton’s strong form comes at a time when the focus beforehand was mainly on other players. According to Edgar, ahead of the Premier League there was a lot of talk about Luke Littler and Luke Humphries, while other established names received less attention.
Clayton now sits top of the Premier League standings, while compatriot Gerwyn Price occupies fourth. Littler and Humphries are currently outside the playoff spots. “Everyone thought it was going to be Luke and Luke. If anyone was going to hijack it, it was going to be Van Veen."
The fifth night of the Premier League Darts takes place on Thursday evening in Cardiff. Clayton faces second-placed Van Veen, while Price takes on Stephen Bunting.
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Lucas MichaelDarts Journalist
Lucas Michael is a darts journalist and reporter based in Cambridge, UK, and has been part of the DartsNews team since 2025. He covers professional darts through reports, analysis, round-ups, and live coverage, with a focus on clear context and accurate reporting across the PDC calendar.
A key part of his work is liveblogging major tournaments throughout the year, providing real-time updates, match coverage, and contextual reporting across the professional circuit. He also reports regularly from events on site and has covered the PDC World Darts Championship from the venue, delivering first-hand insight throughout the tournament.
Within the newsroom, Lucas works closely with the editorial team and supports coverage alongside Chief Content Officer Samuel Gill and reporter Kieran Wood.
Lucas holds a BA (Hons) in Sports Journalism. In his work, he places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating content promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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- Yes Phil,now the money in the game is bigger than ever,you'd play littler. Well so would I! Retire on your memory Phil,and your successful careerrick6709-11-2026
- And why should he listen to you?Deduce635807-11-2026
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- Probably i will receive a lot of backlash and hate for this reaction, but well, so be it. I am more than sick and tired of those lies of you Barry Hearn. How dare you defend yourself over the back of Fallon’s son! He has a disability and not an illness, so let me correct that for you! I know because I have the exact same disability. I have tried to reach out to Fallon in the past, and offered her to help her and her son, because I was struggling with the same problems, and I understood the boy. I wanted him to have finally someone who understood him. However she told me that she did not want my help, and I have respected Fallon’s choice. I have never asked Fallon for money. They don’t need money in that case. I only ever wanted the best for Fallon and Rory, but I have to be honest about the situation. Fallon should tell the true story and not be forced to tell lies. I don’t hate Fallon, and I don’t begrudge or envy a single penny that she gets, but this situation/case is just not fair. I hate the lies and the dishonesty and injustice. I don’t want Fallon to be hated because there is an unfair disadvantage created. Don’t proclaim your false lies over the back of Rory! I only stand for integrity and justice. I am precisely the one who always sticks up for Fallon. And you don't, you don't give a damn about them. You were never there for them, and now you only want to save your own position! You are just trying to talk your way out of your own bad behavior at the expense of someone with a disability. And to Fallon, I don’t know if this may ever reach you, and you read it, but I want you to know I love you and I love your son Rory very much, I am sorry how things developed and went. I hope you and Harriet are still friends. I am sorry if I were too persistent to you, or you experienced it that way, but it was never my intention. Please understand I have autism as well. As Barry Hearn would say, I am only just a human being too, and I also make mistakes and misjudge things sometimes. I promise you I did everything out of the deepest love and care for you and Rory. If I were you, I should just keep all the money, only please never be dishonest or tell lies anymore for Barry Hearn, or anyone else. I hope you have the best life, and I wish nothing more than the best for you. I have always loved the two of you. Farewell.Hiddo05-11-2026
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