Clayton overcomes gout to crush Humphries in final

ByPaul Higham

BBC Sport Journalist

Jonny Clayton thrashed Luke Humphries 6-1 in the final to claim his second Premier League night of the season and take a commanding lead at the top of the table after six weeks.

The Welshman struggled with gout in his ankle all night in Nottingham, but while his walking was hampered his throw certainly was not.

The 2021 Premier League champion averaged more than 99 and was a brilliant 67% on his doubles to become the first man to win two league nights this season after five different victors in the first five weeks.

Clayton saved his best for the final after being steady if unspectacular when beating both Michael van Gerwen and Stephen Bunting 6-3 with an almost identical average that was just above 95.

Humphries had earlier ended Luke Littler's bid for back-to-back victories in a thrilling 6-5 semi-final victory, but his wait for a first league win of the season goes on after disappointing in the final.

More to follow.

Thursday, 12 March - Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham

Quarter-finals

Josh Rock 1-6 Stephen Bunting

Jonny Clayton 6-3 Michael van Gerwen

Luke Humphries 6-4 Gian van Veen

Gerwyn Price 5-6 Luke Littler

Semi-finals

Bunting 3-6 Clayton

Humphries 6-5 Littler

Final

Clayton 6-1 Humphries

Thursday, 19 March - 3Arena, Dublin

Quarter-finals

Gian van Veen v Michael van Gerwen

Stephen Bunting v Luke Littler

Josh Rock v Gerwyn Price

Jonny Clayton v Luke Humphries

Semi-finals

Van Veen/Van Gerwen v Bunting/Littler

Rock/Price v Clayton/Humphries

Final

Van Veen/Van Gerwen/Bunting/Littler v Rock/Price/Clayton/Humphries

Premier League Darts is played across 16 initial weeks in the league stage with quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final each night.

Each of the eight players is guaranteed to face the other seven in the quarter-finals in weeks one to seven and 9-15, with week eight and week 16 fixtures done off the table. It means we will get fourth v fifth in Sheffield on the final league-stage night, with the play-off spots potentially on the line.

Players earn two points per quarter-final win, an additional point if they win their semi-final and five for winning the night.

The top four players after the group stage progress to the play-off night at London's O2 Arena on 23 May, with first facing fourth and second against third in a best-of-19-leg match. The final, which is the best of 21 legs, follows.

If players are level on points after the 16 weeks then places are decided by nights won and then matches won.