Clayton: I don't want to be a one-hit wonder

By Phil Lanning

JONNY CLAYTON admits he doesn’t want to be a “one-hit wonder” of the oche.

The Welsh ace begins the defence of his Ladbrokes Masters title tomorrow against either Dimitri Van den Bergh or Ian White.

For Clayton, 43, it’s a return to the venue where he is now the ‘King of Milton Keynes’ having won the Masters and Premier League at the Marshall Arena in 2021.

But he doesn’t want to be just a one-year star, revealing: “I’m crossing my fingers big time. Hopefully I’m not going to be a one-hit wonder. I’m here to make a living for myself the best that I can.

“I just want to to carry on from where it ended last year. I hope I don’t disappear.

“Obviously I was gutted to lose to Michael Smith in the Worlds. But in a different manner, it was a fantastic game and one of us had to lose. 

“I had some chances and so did Michael, he just finished his doubles a bit better. That was the difference in that game.

“I was in good form and who knows I could have gone all the way. But there’s nothing I can do about it now. That’s life.”

Clayton had a fantastic 2021 with four major titles but it all started with glory at the home of the Milton Keynes Dons - but without fans during lockdown.

He added: “I like the place, I like the venue. Hopefully I can do the things that I did last year but in front of a crowd. I’ve got to defend my title and need to start in a good way. 

“Whatever happens I’ve got a really difficult game against either Ian White or Dimitri Van den Bergh. Ian is fantastic, he’s been around for donkey’s years. Dimitri is in good form. I’ll just concentrate on my game, they’ll have t play well to beat me. I’ll focus on me not who I’m playing against.”

Clayton also believes that Michael van Gerwen will be like a “caged animal” after being forced out of the Worlds with Covid.

He said: “I think so. Mike being Mike he goes out to win. He’s a caged animal at all times. Even though I get on really good with him, he’s there to win, he wants to win. He doesn’t like losing. 

“Not being able to play at the World Championship, he’s going to be really hungry. It’s going to be a different Mike.”

Images by Taylor Lanning.