Clayton opens up on personal turmoil ahead of World Grand Prix bid
Jonny Clayton is bidding to put a tumultuous period behind him as he eyes a second BoyleSports World Grand Prix title at Leicester’s Morningside Arena next week.Clayton stormed to victory in the double-start event in 2021, landing five ton-plus checkouts to dispatch his fellow countryman Gerwyn Price 5-1 in a remarkable final.The Welshman also saw off Callan Rydz, Jose de Sousa, Krzysztof Ratajski and Danny Noppert on his way to lifting the coveted title, to cap off arguably the finest week of his career.Despite his haul of big stage titles, Clayton’s World Grand Prix victory remains his only televised ranking success, a record he’s intent on rectifying over the coming months.
“I’m not one to overthink anything,” admitted Clayton, one of five former champions in this year’s 32-player field.
“I just try my best in every tournament that I play. Sometimes they go and sometimes they don’t. That is what sport is all about.“I am defending money from winning the World Grand Prix two years ago, so let’s see how it goes. “Hopefully, the Ferret will come out on the winning side again. I want to lift every trophy that’s going, and I will try my hardest to do that.”
“It was a tough time,” conceded Clayton, who defeated Gabriel Clemens, Dimitri Van den Bergh, Ryan Searle and Luke Humphries before succumbing to Nathan Aspinall in the final.
“I couldn’t perform in the final, but I did something for my dad in his last days, and that means so much to me.“I was going to pull out [of the tournament], but my dad was adamant that he wanted me to play, so what do you do? “I kept on going and thank goodness I did, because that was the last tournament he ever saw me in and I’m so proud that I got to the final.”
“It is still difficult,” added the Welshman, who takes on European Champion Ross Smith in his World Grand Prix opener on Monday.
“I can’t just forget about my Dad, but darts was his life and I just want to keep doing him proud.“I’ve got to be honest; I didn’t throw a dart for nearly six weeks and it shows, but I’m back on the practice board now and I need to concentrate on this end part of the year. “My mind is back now on the big-stage tournaments coming up. It’s an important part of the year so I want to do well, and fingers crossed I will.”