AS EASY AS ONE-TWO-THREE - Premier League Night 9 Review

2021 Premier League Champion Jonny Clayton claimed his first night success on Night 9 of the 2023 competition after beating World Number 1 Michael Smith 6-4 in the Final, winning £10,000 at the Mercedes Benz Arena in Berlin.

The Ferret moves within 3pts of the Premier League Play Off positions, with the Welshman into 5^th behind 4^th placed Nathan Aspinall. The pair will face off in a crucial battle on Night 10 next week in Birmingham as the race for the Top 4 begins to heat up.

Clayton found success against 3 of the World’s top 4 players in the German capital, beating league leader Michael van Gerwen in the Quarter Finals, before edging out compatriot Gerwyn Price in the Semis.

The former World Grand Prix Champion included 4 180s in claiming a 6-5 victory over Mighty Mike in the 3^rd match of the night, finding double 7 with his last dart in hand to deal the 6-time Premier League winner only his 2^nd Quarter Final defeat of this year’s Premier League.

The Ferret then faced Gerwyn Price in the Semi’s, with the Iceman beating his compatriot in the previous 2 weeks in Nottingham and Newcastle. Clayton gained his revenge with a 6-4 win at the Mercedes Benz Arena, including an average of 101.43 and a 40% checkout rate.

Michael Smith came through the other half of the draw, beating Dimitri van den Bergh and Nathan Aspinall to reach his 3^rd Final of the 2023 Premier League. Bully Boy came close to hitting the 1^st 9 dart leg of the tournament, missing double 12 against the Asp in the Semi Finals.

Clayton recovered from 4-3 down in Berlin to beat the defending World Champion 6-4 in the Final on Night 9, reeling the last 3 legs of the match to clinch his first win of this year’s league phase. The Welshman claimed 4 night wins in 2022 after conquering Glasgow, Aberdeen, Liverpool and Birmingham to finish top of last year’s table.

The Premier League heads to Birmingham once more next week for Night 10, as the Ferret prepares to take on 4^th placed Nathan Aspinall in a huge match for the Play Off positions.

By Harry Masterson

Premier League Night 9 Results:

Quarter Finals:

Michael Smith 6-3 Dimitri van den Bergh

Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Chris Dobey

Jonny Clayton 6-5 Michael van Gerwen

Gerwyn Price 6-3 Peter Wright

Semi Finals:

Michael Smith 6-4 Nathan Aspinall

Jonny Clayton 6-4 Gerwyn Price

Final:

Jonny Clayton 6-4 Michael Smith

Premier League Table:

1. Michael van Gerwen: 25pts
2. Gerwyn Price: 20pts
3. Michael Smith: 15pts
4. Nathan Aspinall: 15pts
5. Jonny Clayton: 12pts
6. Chris Dobey: 10pts
7. Dimitri van den Bergh: 9pts
8. Peter Wright: 2pts