Jonny Clayton realises more improvement needed ahead of Rob Cross tie at World Darts Championship: "Otherwise I go home"

For the third consecutive year, Jonny Clayton has progressed to the last 16 at the PDC World Darts Championship. On Friday afternoon, the Welshman defeated Krzysztof Ratajski 4-2.

"Started off great, but definitely in the third set, I don't know what happened. But the wins the win," reflected 'the Ferret' in his post-match press conference. "I felt good up there, I really did feel good. It was just good scoring bad scoring but I'm through and that's all that counts."

Follow the 2024 World Darts Championship via our LIVE SCORE!

Read also

Tournament centre PDC World Darts Championship 2024: Schedule, all results, TV Guide and prize money breakdown

Although Clayton has struggled since reaching the final of the World Matchplay and is yet to fully fire at the Alexandra Palace this year, the Welshman is beginning to show glimpses of what he's capable of and he may be hitting his stride at the perfect time.

"The other night wasn't that good. The old Jonny's not back yet. I'm up there to try and win a tournament. I don't care how I do it, I just want to win this tournament," he says. "Krzysztof is quite a slow player, I prefer a rhythm player and he seemed to speed up as the game was going on. He started throwing a bit quicker and I was thinking, 'Yeah please carry this carry this on because this is the kind of play that I like.' But yeah, he didn't play his a-game."

Up next for Clayton is former World Champion, Rob Cross. Clayton realises that nothing less that his top-form will do for that one. "Everything has to be on form with me tomorrow, otherwise I go home."

Read also

2024 PDC World Darts Championship prize money breakdown: £2,500,000 on offer for Ally Pally spectacle