Thu. Mar 28th, 2024


Jonny Clayton claimed victories over Michael van Gerwen and Gerwyn Price before beating Michael Smith 6-4 in the final; Van Gerwen remains top of the season-long standings; the Premier League heads to the Utilita Arena, Birmingham for night ten on Thursday April 6, live on Sky Sports

Last Updated: 30/03/23 11:06pm

Jonny Clayton won night nine of the Premier League season in Berlin

Jonny Clayton won night nine of the Premier League season in Berlin

Jonny Clayton secured a first night victory of the Cazoo Premier League season and bolstered his hopes of qualifying for the play-offs after defeating world champion Michael Smith in the final of night nine in Berlin.

Clayton came through a final-leg decider to knock out league leader Michael van Gerwen and claimed an impressive 6-4 victory over compatriot Gerwyn Price, ending the Ice Man’s hopes a third consecutive night win, then prevailed 6-4 in a tight tussle against Smith.

Smith opened with a 13-dart hold but wasted two break darts in the next to allow Clayton to level the contest, with the Welshman then breaking with a 86 checkout and adding a 80 finish to race into a 3-1 lead.

Premier League – Night 9 in tBerlin Results

Quarter-finals Dimitri Van den Bergh 3-6 Michael Smith
Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Chris Dobey
Jonny Clayton 6-5 Michael van Gerwen
Peter Wright 3-6 Gerwyn Price
Semi-finals Michael Smith 6-4 Nathan Aspinall
Jonny Clayton 6-4 Gerwyn Price
Final Michael Smith 4-6 Jonny Clayton

Clayton squandered two chance to claim a fourth straight leg in the fifth, then found himself behind when Smith followed a stunning 130 checkout on the bullseye and 12-dart break by holding throw in the next.

Michael Smith finds 130 on the bullseye to levels things up in his Premier League final clash with Jonny Clayton in Berlin

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Michael Smith finds 130 on the bullseye to levels things up in his Premier League final clash with Jonny Clayton in Berlin

Michael Smith finds 130 on the bullseye to levels things up in his Premier League final clash with Jonny Clayton in Berlin

Smith was punished for more missed doubles as Clayton levelled the match on tops and then edged back ahead with a 85 checkout, then signed off victory in style with a brilliant 120 finish in the tenth leg.

Victory sees Clayton jump to fifth in the season-long standings on 12 points and within three of Nathan Aspinall – who was beaten by Smith in the semi-finals – in fourth, while Price closed the gap on Van Gerwen after his semi-final finish.

Smith despatched Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-3 in the quarter-finals and came agonisingly close to a nine-dart leg on his way to a 6-4 victory over Aspinall, then fell short in his bid for a second night win of the season.

Michael Smith was so close to getting another nine-darter in his semi-final match with Nathan Aspinall

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Michael Smith was so close to getting another nine-darter in his semi-final match with Nathan Aspinall

Michael Smith was so close to getting another nine-darter in his semi-final match with Nathan Aspinall

More to follow…

Where are we heading next?

Night 10 in Birmingham: Thursday, April 6

Quarter-Finals Michael van Gerwen vs Chris Dobey
Nathan Aspinall vs Jonny Clayton
Dimitri Van den Bergh vs Gerwyn Price
Peter Wright vs Michael Smith

The Premier League roadshow heads to the Utilita Arena, Birmingham on Thursday, April 6 for night ten of the league season.

Smith and Wright lock horns in a repeat of the 2022 world championship final.

Elsewhere, Price takes on Van den Bergh, Dobey and six-time winner Van Gerwen collide, while Clayton and Aspinall also lock horns.

2023 Premier League Schedule

Night 3 OVO Hydro, Glasgow February 16
Night 4 3Arena, Dublin February 23
Night 5 Westpoint Exeter March 2
Night 6 The Brighton Centre March 9
Night 7 Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham March 16
Night 8 Utilita Arena, Newcastle March 23
Night 9 Mercedes-Benz Arena, Berlin March 30
Night 10 Utilita Arena, Birmingham April 6
Night 11 M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool April 13
Night 12 Rotterdam Ahoy April 20
Night 13 First Direct Arena, Leeds April 27
Night 14 AO Arena, Manchester May 4
Night 15 Utilita Arena, Sheffield May 11
Night 16 P&J Live, Aberdeen May 18
Play-Offs The O2, London May 25

We are back for more Premier League Darts action from the Utilita Arena, Birmingham on Thursday, April 6 – live on Sky Sports Action & Sky Sports Main Event from 7pm.



By Dave Jenks

Dave Jenks is an American novelist and Veteran of the United States Marine Corps. Between those careers, he’s worked as a deckhand, commercial fisherman, divemaster, taxi driver, construction manager, and over the road truck driver, among many other things. He now lives on a sea island, in the South Carolina Lowcountry, with his wife and youngest daughter. They also have three grown children, five grand children, three dogs and a whole flock of parakeets. Stinnett grew up in Melbourne, Florida and has also lived in the Florida Keys, the Bahamas, and Cozumel, Mexico. His next dream is to one day visit and dive Cuba.