Clayton mentioned he “wasn’t expecting much” in Nottingham due to his gout, however mentioned “my arm was OK by the look of it and that’s all that counts” as he confirmed few options his ailment would possibly gradual his scoring because it has his strolling.
The three walk-ons and climbing up steep steps onto the stage didn’t assist his situation and his limp bought progressively worse all through the night.
However, as his gait bought worse, his darts bought even higher – and it appears doable that his approach of coping with the ache in his ankle backstage ended up being a bonus.
“I kept practising because it gets worse when I sit down,” he advised Sky Sports after his win. “So I thought ‘I’m going to have to practise’ – it’s the most I have ever done!”
After 5 totally different winners in 5 weeks it was apt that Clayton turned the primary man to double up as he has been comfortably essentially the most constant participant up to now – profitable 11 matches total, 5 greater than anybody else, and likewise main the way in which in 180s hit.
After winning week three in Glasgow, Clayton additionally made final week’s remaining in Cardiff and victory in his third showpiece places him eight factors clear already – an enormous margin in Premier League Darts after simply six weeks.
“Everybody is nicking points off everybody, I wasn’t expecting to be top, eight points [clear], so I’m over the moon with that,” Clayton added.
‘Beware the injured darts participant’ would possibly now be a saying.
