Jonny Clayton has secured his place at the Premier League Darts play-offs after a 6-4 victory against Luke Littler in Rotterdam.
The win gave Clayton back-to-back night victories for the first time this season and extended his lead over defending champion Luke Humphries to 16 points.
Clayton, a 51-year-old former plasterer for Carmarthenshire County Council, was not expected to reach the finals by bookmakers ahead of the tournament.
Speaking at the Premier League media launch in early February, Clayton said people not rating him motivated him to prove them wrong.
His Rotterdam triumph followed a 6-5 comeback win against seven-time champion Michael van Gerwen in Brighton, where he had been 5-2 down in the final.
After beating Littler, Clayton re-watched his victory over van Gerwen and said it hurt when commentators suggested he was favourite to finish bottom.
Sky Sports pundit Wayne Mardle stated Clayton had sewn up a place at the O2 Arena in London for the play-offs on 28 May 2026.
Clayton noted he has reached the finals night in each of his three previous Premier League appearances.
The £350,000 winner’s prize remains within reach, which Clayton said justifies his decision to transition to full-time darts.
How Clayton’s recent wins changed his tournament position
Clayton’s victories in Brighton and Rotterdam moved him to the top of the Premier League standings after 11 of 16 league stage nights.
His lead over Luke Humphries, who is fifth going into night 12 in Liverpool, now stands at 16 points.
The former plasterer has recorded four nightly wins in the campaign, including the back-to-back successes in Brighton and Rotterdam.
What Clayton said about overcoming doubts
Clayton admitted comments about him being expected to finish bottom annoyed him and motivated his recent performances.
He stated he does not often watch past matches but made an exception for his win over van Gerwen to see the criticism.
The Welsh player said seeing the doubt expressed hurt him but now he is enjoying his success with a massive smile on his face.
How many points does Jonny Clayton lead Luke Humphries by?
Clayton leads Humphries by 16 points going into night 12 in Liverpool.
What prize is Jonny Clayton still competing for?
Clayton is still competing for the £350,000 Premier League winner’s prize.