...when it comes to the Winter Gardens, Jonny has stayed until the very end once – and on all other occasions, beat the postcards home...
Welsh maestro Jonny Clayton’s World Matchplay record reads a bit like The Big One roller-coaster at Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach: one dizzying high – a run to the final – surrounded by a series of drops that barely register, representing a string of early exits.
I don’t want to be too hard on the bloke – after all, he’s won loads of big TV majors, including the prestigious Premier League. It’s just that when it comes to the Winter Gardens, Jonny has stayed until the very end once – and on all other occasions, beat the postcards home.
WHAT IS THE WORLD MATCHPLAY:Format, History and Hall of Fame
Pleasantries out of the way, we got down to business. And with the World Matchplay underway – and Jonny involved – it seemed like a sensible place to start. The Welsh World Cup skipper begins his campaign on Sunday against his German counterpart, Martin Schindler:
“He’s a good player and done really well for himself. It’s easier to play him in the UK than in Germany – the crowd absolutely love him over there. But he’s worked hard and become a serious dart player. I think it’ll be a tough game. Martin’s not the type to disappear – he fights right to the end.”
Schindler has made plenty of deep runs on the European Tour and picked up a couple of titles of late – but I reminded Jonny that he’s lost all three of his previous Matchplay games in the first round:
“Good! I hope it becomes four! I hope he hates the venue! Nah, I’m joking. He’s one of those you’d rather not draw if you had the choice. I know it’ll be a tough match and I’ll have to be at my best.”
GET FAMILIAR WITH THE FERRET: At home with Jonny Clayton
Still, Clayton is happy enough with when he’s playing – even if not overly thrilled about who:
“At the end of the day, whatever the draw is – that’s what you’ve got to play. There’s no such thing as an easy game in this. It’s basically the top 32 in the world, give or take. If I could pick, I’d go for a Saturday or Sunday evening match. You get the whole day to prepare, so definitely a night session for me.”
Worked out well then, Jonny! And The Ferret is a fan of the longer format – especially in the first round:
“Yeah, it’s better. First to ten legs gives you time to settle in. It’s not like a first-to-six, where if you go 3–0 down, you’ve got to break him twice. If you have a slow start, you’ve got a bit of room to work with.
“I played Luke Humphries in the semis a couple of years ago – he flew ahead, but I just kept digging and digging and eventually beat him. So yeah, you do have time in this one.”
FERRETS PHENOMENAL FINISHING: Catch Clayton at his very best
Well, it’s certainly about time Clayton picked up another piece of silverware – perhaps to display in his new mancave. And if you’re picking potential winners based on recent form, then Jonny is definitely in the conversation.
Could he become the first Welshman to lift the coveted Phil Taylor Trophy? He’s got a decent shout – as long as he remembers not to leave himself too many bogeys. Has form for that too!
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Category: General Sports
