Nicholson calls for PDC ranking system reform: "There's something a bit wrong with this picture"

Jonny Clayton won the Premier League Darts recently to add to his Masters and World Cup of Darts triumphs but still sits 17th going into the World Matchplay in the PDC Order of Merit.

While likely sitting in the top 16 going into the Winter Gardens as the race stands, Clayton as a now three time TV champion doesn't have a spot which shows his ranking.

Paul Nicholson sat down with Online Darts during the Live League to discuss his Premier League win as well as calling for reform to the current ranking system.

"Gerwyn Price has got a lot to answer for. You look at the way that Jonny Clayton came into his first World Cup with Gezzy and he looked a bit like a scared Ferret but now you look at what has happened after winning the World Cup and he's turned into a completely different Ferret," said Nicholson to Online Darts.

"I'm not going to say he's a breath of fresh air because he's been part of the sport for a long time in different levels. But he hasn't changed and this isn't going to change Jonny Clayton, he is who he is.

"I think Price came into darts because of Barrie Bates, what we have with Clayton is a different Clayton because of what Price has unleashed after that World Cup victory and now we have to genuinely start talking about Clayton as a threat for a World title."

Call for reform

'The Asset' went on to speak about the aforementioned reform and said that an instance like this happening shows the need for it to be discussed by the PDC going forward.

"I've been atop my soapbox for a little bit of time now. I think the way that the PDC handled the Premier League situation was very clever. I think having the play-off between Merv (King) and Jonny was perfect. If you have the Masters in its format from 2021 going forward where there's 24 players instead of 16, I really like that. It gave that some more grandeur and that's what that tournament has craved because it's never been ranked.

"I am now screaming internally, I am not saying the PDC have to change it right away what I'm saying is certain things happen at certain times within sport that make you have to get round the table and say do you know what, Jonny Clayton has exposed something with the rankings here that maybe does need to be addressed. When you have someone that has won three television titles without any ranking money, he's still at 17th, there's something a bit wrong with this picture."

Solution to that issue

So what would the former Players Championship Finals champion do? He said that he would even give up his title as a major champion if it meant the riddle of what's a major was finally sorted with a system akin to golf and tennis with major tournaments and different tiers.

"You can't rank the World Cup, it's a brilliant showcase for countries. Going forward there is an opportunity here for the PDC and the PDPA to get their heads together to not just sort out the fact that something would be ranked but they have an opportunity here to put to bed this whole what is a major thing," he continued.

"If it was me, I would put four or five at the top tier which are classed as majors, very similarly to golf and tennis. Have five at the top, Premier League, World Grand Prix, World Matchplay, World's and Grand Slam, it's pretty simple."

"There has to be a definite structure. Next level you've got premier events that are on TV that aren't majors. Things like the Players Championship Finals and for me to say that to take my major away from me, I'm doing this for the benefit of the sport.

"Then under that you've got European Tour and Players Championship events of course. I would rank most events from there on a points basis. You could have a fairer ranking system where the World's isn't as top heavy but still has more points than the Matchplay, Grand Prix, Premier League and Grand Slam.