Jonny Clayton claimed his first World Series title in Australia with victory at the PalmerBet New South Wales Darts Masters, dispatching James Wade in front of a record-breaking crowd in Wollongong.
There were 4,000 fans packed into the WIN Entertainment Centre to see Clayton capture his first title of 2022, courtesy of a comprehensive 8-1 win over Wade in Saturday’s showpiece.
The former World Series Finals winners were both vying to claim their first World Series tour titles, but Clayton stole an early march to establish a 3-0 cushion.
Wade followed up his first maximum with a trademark ton-plus finish to open his account, only for Clayton to restore his three-leg cushion with a 14-darter, which he followed with a 120 checkout to lead 5-1.
The Welshman refused to relent as he stretched his buffer to 7-1, before sealing the deal in spectacular style, taking out a brilliant 160 finish to scoop the £20,000 top prize.
160 FINISH TO WIN THE TITLE!! 🏆
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) August 20, 2022
Absolutely incredible stuff from Jonny Clayton as he wins the 2022 @PalmerbetAU New South Wales Darts Masters with a simply sensational 160 finish!
He beats James Wade 8-1 to win his first title in Australia and his second World Series title pic.twitter.com/lz8yh9rueh
“This means a lot to me,” said an emotional Clayton, who surrendered just six legs on Finals Day to secure his second World Series crown.
“I knew I needed to keep James under pressure because we all know what James can do, and luckily for me I kept him under pressure.
“Hopefully this can kick-start the rest of my year. Last week I didn’t turn up, but I lost to a much better player, and now I’m looking forward to next week.”
Earlier in the day, Clayton secured a place in the semi-finals with a battling 6-4 victory over third seed Michael Smith, taking out a brilliant 136 finish to seal his progression.
The Welshman then stormed through to Saturday’s finale with a crushing 7-1 victory over Joe Cullen, avenging his defeat against the Yorkshireman in June’s Cazoo Premier League semi-finals.
Wade was bidding to win his first PDC title since March 2021, and he produced some impressive displays in Saturday’s closing stages, whitewashing top seed Dimitri Van den Bergh in the last eight.
The ten-time TV title winner punished a profligate display from the Belgian, firing in four 180s and taking out 127 and 104 checkouts to book his place in the last four.
The left-hander then produced a ruthless display of combination finishing to dump out world number one Gerwyn Price in the semi-finals.
Wade kicked off proceedings with a sublime 140 outshot, before winning the final three legs to complete a convincing 7-3 success and seal his place in a first final Down Under since 2015.
“I just got smashed to pieces by Jonny,” reflected a candid Wade post-match.
“I am really disappointed with how I played in the final, but Jonny is one of the few players I don’t mind losing to.
“I didn’t play anywhere near Jonny’s level and he did what he needed to do. The only thing he did wrong was lose a leg!”
Elsewhere, Price posted his second highest televised average to dispatch Fallon Sherrock in the quarter-finals, averaging 109.98, hitting four 180s and converting six of his nine attempts at double.
STUNNING FROM PRICE!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) August 20, 2022
An absolute masterclass from Gerwyn Price as he blows away Fallon Sherrock 6-0 to book his place in the Semi-Finals and sets up a clash with James Wade
What a performance! #NSWDarts
Watch 📺 https://t.co/YyBPPwoMK8 pic.twitter.com/o0IEgztcAQ
Meanwhile, Cullen ended the hopes of Australia’s World Cup hero Simon Whitlock, defying a partisan atmosphere to close out a 6-2 win and make it back-to-back semi-finals Down Under.
The World Series of Darts roadshow will culminate with the TAB New Zealand Darts Masters at Hamilton’s Globox Arena from August 26-27, as Michael van Gerwen bids to defend his crown.
New South Wales Darts Masters: Results
Friday August 19
First Round (Best of 11 legs)
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1000 BST)
- Joe Cullen 6-3 Dave Marland
- James Wade 6-3 Gordon Mathers
- Jonny Clayton 6-1 Haupai Puha
- Fallon Sherrock 6-5 Mal Cuming
- Gerwyn Price 6-0 Koha Kokiri
- Michael Smith 6-5 Damon Heta
- Michael van Gerwen 5-6 Simon Whitlock
- Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-3 Raymond O’Donnell
Saturday August 20
Evening Session (1900 local time, 1000 BST)
Quarter-finals
- James Wade 6-0 Dimitri Van den Bergh
- Gerwyn Price 6-0 Fallon Sherrock
- Joe Cullen 6-2 Simon Whitlock
- Jonny Clayton 6-4 Michael Smith
Semi-finals
- James Wade 7-3 Gerwyn Price
- Jonny Clayton 7-1 Joe Cullen
Final
- Jonny Clayton 8-1 James Wade
Format
First round games are best of 11 legs, with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final the best of 15 legs.
New South Wales Darts Masters: Sky Bet odds
Where can I watch the New South Wales Darts Masters on TV?
The event will be broadcast by ITV4 in the UK - but it won't be live. Instead delayed coverage will be screened from 1900 BST on Friday and 1630 BST on Saturday.
Coverage will be live on Fox Sports in Australia, as well as through the PDC's global broadcast partners.
Live coverage through PDCTV is available for all subscribers worldwide outside of Germany, Austria and Switzerland (coverage exclusively via DAZN). A PDCTV Summer Pass option is available for £15 which includes all three World Series of Darts events during August.
Prize Fund
- Winner: £25,000
- Runner-up: £10,000
- Semi-Finalists: £6,500
- Quarter-Finalists: £5,000
- Last 16: £3,000
- Last 32: £2,000
- Last 48: £1,000
Darts: Related content
- 2022 PDC Darts Calendar
- 2022 Premier League results
- Ranked versus unranked
- How to make it as a pro?
- How much money do players earn?
- Greatest darts rivalries
- Phil Taylor's greatest display
- World Cup of Great Darts performances
- Fantasy Darts: Bristow v MVG
- Fantasy Darts: Cross v Deller
- Fantasy Darts: Taylor v Burnett
- Fantasy Darts: Hankey v Durrant
- Fantasy Darts: Rees v Price
- Sky Bet's darts odds
