Former professional darter Matt Edgar has singled out Jonny Clayton as one of the mentally strongest players at the highest level, attributing his success to a remarkably relaxed mindset. The world number five has impressed this season with a win on Night 3 of the Premier League Darts and a quarter-final spot at the World Championship. Edgar believes that while many top players chase marginal gains, Clayton stands out because he barely feels any pressure.
"Jonny Clayton is the most relaxed darts player at elite level you will ever find," Edgar told OLBG, illustrating his point with an anecdote. "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." Edgar sees Clayton as part of a generation who play primarily for enjoyment, describing him as "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 suggested Clayton doesn't fully grasp his stature in the sport, noting, "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.'" This mindset has propelled Clayton to the top of the Premier League standings, with compatriot Gerwyn Price in fourth, while Luke Littler and Luke Humphries are currently outside the playoff spots.
Clayton's strong form comes amid a season where focus was initially on others. "Everyone thought it was going to be Luke and Luke. If anyone was going to hijack it, it was going to be Van Veen," Edgar remarked. The fifth night of the Premier League Darts takes place on Thursday evening in Cardiff, where Clayton faces second-placed Van Veen, and Price takes on Stephen Bunting.
