2019 BetVictor Masters Day Two

Winmau World Masters

MICHAEL SMITH enjoyed a winning return to action at the BetVictor Masters on Saturday night at The Marshall Arena.

2019 BetVictor Masters Day One

Winmau World Masters

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN made a winning start to his defence of the BetVictor Masters title in Milton Keynes on night one.

Van Gerwen: 'Time To Get Back To Business'

Winmau World Masters

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN is looking forward to getting back to business at the BetVictor Masters.

2019 BetVictor Masters Preview

Winmau World Masters

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN will be bidding for a fifth successive BetVictor Masters title at The Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes.

2019 BetVictor Masters Quiz

Winmau World Masters

BetVictor Masters: Stats Analysis

Winmau World Masters

Experience in long-format matches could play a big part in this weekend's BetVictor Masters.

Anderson Misses BetVictor Masters - Bunting In

Winmau World Masters

GARY ANDERSON has withdrawn from the BetVictor Masters due to a long-term back problem.

Cullen: 'I Need To Be More Clinical'

Winmau World Masters

JOE CULLEN is hoping to find a ruthless streak to banish painful 2018 memories ahead of his BetVictor Masters debut.

2019 Season Preview

News

WE look ahead to a mouth-watering 2019 campaign in PDC darts.

The Story Of 2018

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WE take a look back at an incredible 2018 campaign in PDC darts which saw 21 different event winners.

Jonny Clayton lifted his first individual televised PDC title at the Ladbrokes Masters, defeating Mervyn King 11-8 in the final in Milton Keynes on Sunday.

A World Cup winner for Wales alongside Gerwyn Price in 2020, Clayton's landmark victory at the Marshall Arena also secures him a Premier League debut in 2021.

The popular Welshman averaged 104.1 in the final, maintaining the clinical finishing he displayed throughout the tournament to defeat King in a shoot-out for the final Premier League spot.

Clayton's route to the final was a dramatic one, coming through last-leg deciders against Jose de Sousa, Michael van Gerwen, James Wade and Peter Wright to reach The Masters' showdown.

"To get over that winning line in my first individual final is an amazing feeling," said Clayton, who picks up £60,000 as champion.

"It wasn't the best of matches, we've both played better in this tournament but that was to be expected given what was at stake.

"I was so glad I didn't have to play another deciding leg. At one stage I thought Mervyn was going to take me all the way.

"He went to sleep for a couple of legs and I took advantage to go in front, from there I played pretty consistent."

Clayton had a brief taste of the Premier League stage as a 'Challenger' in Cardiff in February 2020, but will now feature alongside the likes of Price, Van Gerwen and Wright as part of the line-up.

"I was hoping for a place in the Premier League, but to hear it confirmed on stage after I won was amazing," Clayton continued.

"I'm over the moon to be in it. I really am chuffed to bits."

A final between two players seeking a first individual televised PDC title saw 2014 Masters runner-up King start well, landing checkouts of 128 and 110 to take a 5-3 lead, but Clayton responded with a 136 finish on his way to taking the next six legs to go 9-5 up.

Back-to-back 80 checkouts saw King halve the deficit but it was to be Clayton's day as the world number 18 closed out victory with a 12-dart leg.

"I can't explain what happened because I haven't got a clue," admitted King, also the runner-up at the Players Championship Finals in November.

"One minute I felt right and the next I didn't. It was very on and off. I started to fall asleep in the semis against Gerwyn and got away with it.

"I was just hoping hit maybe I could force a last leg but all credit to Jonny he played some cracking darts, fair play to him.

"Hopefully I'll be back again fairly soon."

Finals Day saw the quarter-finals take place in the afternoon session, as Clayton fought back from 9-6 down to defeat James Wade 10-9 with a near-faultless display of finishing as he hit ten doubles from 11 attempts.

In the evening's semi-finals, Clayton won another last-leg shoot-out against reigning champion Wright to book his place in the final.

King also won 11-10 in the last four to halt the charge of world number one Price, who suffered his first defeat as World Champion.

King had seen off Nathan Aspinall in the quarter-finals with another strong display, which had seen him lead 9-0 before closing out a 10-3 success.

Price averaged 105 as he defeated Adrian Lewis 10-6 in the last eight, while Wright overcame Dave Chisnall 10-5 after storming into an early 5-0 lead in their clash.

Drawboard