JONNY CLAYTON roars into his first major final

JONNY CLAYTON roared into his first major final and admitted: “If I’d won I might have quit my job!” The Ferret produced a sensational run in the Mr Green Sport Players Championship but couldn’t stop the Michael van Gerwen winning juggernaut in the final, losing out 11-2. But it was a great weekend for the Welshman beating Jeffrey de Graaf, Gerwyn Price, Stephen Bunting, Steve Beaton and Rob Cross on the way to his clash with MVG. Clayton has now gone up into the top 32 of the PDC Order of Merit and it’s the perfect boost prior to the World Championships. He said: “I thoroughly enjoyed it but at the end of the day Michael’s just one of those players you have to play your best game at the right time and I didn’t do that. But I’m so chuffed. “It’s a learning curve, it’s my first final and the crowd were amazing and to be honest I’ll take a lot out of that game. It’s step-by-step and into the top 32 what more could I ask for, it’s amazing.” This year has seen the rapid emergence of Daryl Gurney and Rob Cross grabbing all the headlines, taking several titles between them. But Clayton has also made huge strides and his incredible run in Minehead proves he is a force to be reckoned with. He said: “Rob has got all the attention and rightly so, maybe I’m the horse that comes behind the bus, slowly surely but maybe I’m getting there. "It’s a great payday but I have to go back to work on Tuesday. If I’d won the final and the £100,000 maybe I would have quit my job! “You always look forward to the world championships , I’ve only been there once before. What a tournament and I’m seriously excited about going there. “I’ve hit a bit of form and hopefully I can go quite far again. The experience of this weekend will help me so I’m on a high, my darts are going OK so I’m hopeful.”