Jonny Clayton has issued a stark warning to teenage darts sensation Luke Littler, telling him to start 'chasing' after the Welshman's Premier League triumph in Brighton propelled him to the top of the table. Clayton's victory, sealed with a dramatic 6-5 win over Michael van Gerwen in the final, not only secured the nightly honours but also saw him overtake defending champion Littler in the overall standings.
Clayton's Confident Message to Littler
Speaking exclusively to Sky Sports after his success, Clayton delivered a brutal yet calculated message to his young rival. "I'm back on top of the table, Luke Littler can start chasing me again," he declared. "It feels great to be honest. I know what it's like to be here, I've got the experience, I know what you need to get to finals night. Take your chances, play decent, you've got a good chance."
Focus on the Top Four
Despite his commanding position, Clayton remains grounded, emphasising the importance of securing a top-four finish with six nights remaining before the finals at London's O2 Arena in late May. "Obviously we look at it [the table] but we don't discuss it really," he added. "You just want to be in that top four. It doesn't matter who you play, you're there. It's anybody's night, hopefully it's going to be mine."
Littler's Struggles in Brighton
Clayton's comments come after a particularly challenging evening for Littler in Brighton. The 19-year-old faced audible boos from the crowd and recorded the lowest televised average of his career, a mere 83.94, during his defeat to Stephen Bunting. Bunting expressed sympathy for his opponent, stating, "It's tough because the crowd was giving him some stick. I like Luke because he's a fantastic lad and I don't like to see that."
Practice Room Dynamics
In a revealing insight into backstage tensions, Clayton confirmed that Littler has been practising separately from Gian van Veen following their disagreement in Manchester. "Yeah, they're always in separate practice rooms really," Clayton explained. "If there's two rooms then myself, Mike [Van Gerwen], and Luke [Humphries] are in one and Gian comes into that. I don't think anything of it, it's just the way it happens. Tonight Gian was in with us and Luke was in the other. There's nothing in that."
Upcoming Premier League Fixtures
The Premier League circuit continues with a midweek event in Rotterdam, followed by nights in Liverpool, Aberdeen, Leeds, Birmingham, and Sheffield. These final four tournaments will be crucial in determining which players secure their spots for the highly anticipated finals at the O2 Arena.
