Clayton Wins In Brighton To Go Top Of Premier League

Jonny Clayton came from 5-2 down to hit Michael van Gerwen 6-5 and declare his 3rd nightly triumph to move apical of nan Premier League.

Van Gerwen missed 4 lucifer darts successful full arsenic nan Welshman reeled disconnected 4 consecutive legs to return nan triumph successful Brighton.

Victory takes Clayton, who began nan evening successful third, 3 points supra Luke Littler aft nan world champion was beaten by Stephen Bunting successful nan quarter-finals and grounded to adhd to his points tally.

While Van Gerwen had nan separator some successful position of mean and checkout percent successful nan final, Clayton produced erstwhile it mattered arsenic he made nan seven-time champion salary for failing to wrap up nan lucifer astatine 5-2 and 5-4 and forced a decider.

Clayton past vanished it successful style, hitting 2 180s successful nan limb earlier sealing it connected double 16.

"I thought nan crippled was complete astatine 5-2 up for Michael," Clayton told Sky Sports.

"He missed, he gave maine a chance. You've sewage to return chances. That past limb was astir apt my champion of nan game.

"I'm backmost connected apical of nan table, Luke Littler tin commencement chasing maine again."

Despite falling conscionable short of a first nightly triumph since nan opening week successful Newcastle, Van Gerwen's tally to nan last helped him statement up his play-off spot and unfastened up a four-point spread to chap Dutchman Gian van Veen successful fifth.