Jonny Clayton World Championship Win Creates Nightmare Scenario For One Player

Jonny Clayton's win over Andreas Harryson in round four of the World Darts Championship has created a nightmare scenario for one of his rivals.

Clayton secured a 4-2 victory in sets over the Swede, who needed to win to break into the top 64 and secure an automatic PDC tour card.

As it is, Harryson will enter EU Q-School in what will be his second attempt at winning a two-year tour card.

Clayton had to work hard for his victory, having gone 2-1 down before having his throw broken in the fourth set.

But the Welshman recovered to clinch a last-leg decider, before coming back from 2-0 down to win set five.

He then checked out on double 16 in the final leg of set six to secure the victory.

Clayton will face Ryan Searle in the quarter-final of the competition, with a clash against reigning champion Luke Littler or Kryzsztof Ratajski on the cards in the last four for the winner.

Clayton's victory could yet prove pivotal in deciding the players that will compete in next season's Premier League.

The top four players in the two-year Order of Merit automatically qualify for the invitational tournament, which takes place over 17 weeks.

Prior to the World Championship, Clayton was ranked at world number five.

But after world number four Stephen Bunting suffered a third-round defeat to James Hurrell on Sunday, Clayton's victory over Harryson means he now has enough prize money to overtake Bunting.

While Clayton currently occupies fourth position, however, it is only provisional, as a number of players could overtake him before the end of the World Championship.

World number six Gian van Veen remains in the tournament, though would need to reach the semi-finals - and hope that Clayton loses his next match against Searle - to climb into the top four.

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Van Veen is in the same bracket as 2024 champion Luke Humphries, who he could face in the quarter-finals if he reaches that stage.

But Bunting must now hope he has performed well enough in 2025 to secure a invitation to the Premier League, rather than being able to rely on automatic qualification.

'The Bullet' has almost certainly done more than enough, having won six titles across the year, but will now face an anxious wait before finding out.

Speaking to Sky Sports reporter Polly James after his win, Clayton said: "There's a lot of things on my mind, obviously being world number four was one of them.

"To be fair to Andreas, every time I looked up, he was hitting doubles.

"That was tough. Okay, I didn't play my best, a lot of loose darts, but that's what pressure does to you. He kept me under pressure all the time.

"We all go up there, we all miss doubles, we all miss big numbers, it's cruel at times. But, thank God, I've done alright today."

More to follow...