Jonny Clayton is the World Series of Darts champion (Picture: PDC/Kelly Deckers)

Darts results: Jonny Clayton beats Dimitri Van den Bergh to World Series of Darts Finals title

By Sporting Life

Darts

Mon November 01, 2021 · 3y ago

Jonny Clayton added another chapter to his remarkable story with an 11-6 victory over Dimitri Van den Bergh to capture the World Series of Darts Finals.

Clayton had never won a major individual TV event prior to 2021 but now has four, adding this title to The Masters, Premier League Darts and the World Grand Prix.

October began with that victory over World Cup teammate Gerwyn Price in the World Grand Prix final and ended with a convincing victory over Van den Bergh, confirming that Clayton is right at the peak of his game ahead of a huge two months of darts.

This is his third TV title that hasn't been ranked this season which means he's still eighth in the PDC's Order of Merit but many will now regarded him as an unofficial world number one based on his form right now.

Price had earlier threatened to take revenge for the World Grand Prix final defeat only to lose out 10-9 in an enthralling quarter-final, before Clayton produced a ruthless display to get the better of Michael van Gerwen and seal a showdown with the awaiting Van den Bergh, himself having overcome Jose de Sousa, Kim Huybrechts and Krzysztof Ratajski.

It was the Belgian who drew first blood in the final, breaking to lead 3-2, but he failed to back that up and repeated the same mistake having edged back ahead at 5-4, chances he could ill afford to miss.

Clayton capitalised on Van den Bergh misses in leg 11 to move back in front and secured his first break shortly after, holding throw to establish daylight at 9-6 heading into the interval.

Any concern that his momentum would be halted proved unfounded as Clayton took out 121 on the bullseye to break again and make it four legs in succession, leading 10-6 and with the trophy now firmly within his grasp.

Van den Bergh had no answer as Clayton took out 96 to win the next leg and the title, continuing his impressive ascent at the age of 47.

"I'm enjoying every second of what I'm doing right now," said Clayton. "I want to thank everyone who supports me and gives me the chance to do this.

"I feel brilliant, my confidence is sky high at the moment. I'm one very happy man. There's no easy games, everyone in this competition is fantastic but it's my weekend so I'm going to smile tonight. It was a class game in the final, fair play to Dimitri. I could not get away from him until the last quarter of the game."

Despite coming up short in the final, Van den Bergh enjoyed a return to form across the weekend as he bounced back from a disappointing first round exit at the World Grand Prix.

The world number five claimed a gutsy 11-8 win over Krzysztof Ratajski in the semi-finals, having got the better of his Belgian World Cup teammate Kim Huybrechts in the quarter-finals.

"It wasn't the result I wanted but Jonny and I played a fantastic final, what a star he is," said Van den Bergh.

"I felt a lot better in my game this weekend than I have in the last few weeks. I've sorted something out and now I feel free to enjoy my darts again.

"I want to say a massive thank you to the fans, it was a joy playing in front of this crowd. I will be back."