Jonny Clayton has set his sights on an all-Welsh final in Cardiff after winning night three of the Premier League Darts in Glasgow with a 6-2 victory over Gian van Veen. The 51-year-old, known as 'The Ferret', sits top of the standings after four weeks and is on the opposite side of the draw to fellow Welshman Gerwyn Price for night five in the Welsh capital. Both players have won a night in this year's competition, with Price triumphing on night two in Antwerp and Clayton on night three in Glasgow. "Two Welsh boys in the final, that would be amazing," said Clayton. "Obviously Jonny Clayton picking up the trophy would be a little bit better! Hopefully we can do it, fingers crossed we meet in the final."
Clayton, who missed out on the previous two years of the Premier League, expressed excitement about returning to play in Cardiff. "I've been away from the Premier League for a couple of years now," he told BBC Sport Wales. "I'm back in and back in Wales playing, so that's all I want, my favourite tournament, my favourite city. There's no better support than the Welsh. There's only one major in Wales and it's the Premier League night, to be a part of that in front of your own crowd is fantastic." He added that having fan-backing for both himself and Price—often the target for booing in the past—will be unusual. "It's going to be mental, it's going to be exciting, singing, chanting and they're all behind us for a change. We're looking forward to this big time."
Clayton, who won the Premier League title in his debut year in 2021 by beating Portugal's Jose de Sousa 11-5 in the final, is aiming to become a double champion. "All I can do is to go out and try to play my best darts and if I can carry on doing that I'm doing something right. If it's my campaign it'll be my campaign. Hopefully it is and I can be double Premier League champion." Despite a highly competitive field of eight players that includes four world champions, Clayton has been the model of consistency in the 2026 tournament. Winning his quarter-final match each week has ensured he has left with at least two points at each venue, the only player to have done so. "I've been in the Premier League before so I know what you have to do," he said. "It's a bit of experience on my behalf. Points are so important whether it's just the two points or it's five points, if you can pick up two every week you'll be close at the end of the 16th week for the 17th week [play-offs]."
Clayton emphasized the importance of consistency week-on-week. "Picking up nightly wins is a massive bonus. I've got one under my belt, hopefully there is one Thursday night, and I can still be at the top when it comes to week 17." On Thursday, 5 March, at the Utilita Arena in Cardiff, Clayton will face World Championship runner-up Gian van Veen in the quarter-finals, with the pair splitting their past meetings. "We're one win each but he's at my home in Wales so hopefully that will be to my advantage and Gian can experience the proper Welsh crowds. I'm looking forward to this, he's a great kid, a brilliant player and I'm sure it'll be a good game." The quarter-finals also feature Michael van Gerwen v Luke Humphries, Gerwyn Price v Stephen Bunting, and Luke Littler v Josh Rock, with semi-finals and a final to follow. Live text commentary will be available on the BBC Sport website and app.
