Jonny Clayton will face fellow Welshman and World Cup partner Gerwyn Price for a place in the quarter-finals of the Paddy Power World Darts Championship on Sunday evening.
Clayton defeated Mickey Mansell in a second round tie-break to kick off his campaign, before overcoming Mansell’s compatriot Daryl Gurney in another thrilling game on Friday December 27.
The 50-year-old appeared in cruise control at 3-0 up and looked to be heading for a whitewash victory, until a late rally from the Northern Irishman forced a dramatic seventh and final set.
A severe case of double trouble hampered both players in the closing stages, with Gurney missing seven darts to force a tie-break, before Clayton eventually sealed victory with his fourth match dart.
“At 3-0 up I was thinking I’ve got this, and all of a sudden it’s 3-3 and I’m not thinking the same at that time,” admitted the former Premier League champion.
“It was great to get over the line. Daryl Gurney is a gentleman; he wears his heart on his sleeve.
“How he missed those last three darts I don’t know. To my liking he did, and somehow, I hit double four so I was a happy man.”
His next assignment sees him face 2021 World Champion Price, as the two-time World Cup winners lock horns in a premier televised event for the first time since the 2023 Premier League.
Clayton’s progress to the last 16 has already guaranteed a move up to world number six for the Pontyberem ace, which could extend his reign as Welsh number one.
Price, meanwhile, has endured a challenging 2024 campaign, failing to progress to a televised ranking quarter-final which has seen him slip to tenth on the PDC Order of Merit.
However, Price has shown signs of a resurgence in the capital, following up a routine win over Keane Barry with an epic deciding-set win over Joe Cullen, having also stormed into a 3-0 lead at one stage.
Clayton has conceded he needs to raise his level against his fellow countryman, as he bids to match his run to the quarter-finals in 2022/23.
“Gerwyn is a great mate, but we all know what he is capable of,” added Clayton, competing in his ninth World Darts Championship.
“I’m quite an honest person, and I need to lift my game. My scoring needs to come back and maybe then I’ve got a chance to go to the end.
“I need to get as far as I can in this tournament. My dream is to lift this trophy, so if I can do that then I will be one happy man.”
“I’m trying to do as well as I can right now, because my time in darts is running out!”