World Grand Prix 2021: Gerwyn Worth and Jonny Clayton set to collide in thrilling all-Welsh last

World Cup companions Gerwyn Worth and Jonny Clayton will do battle for the 2021 World Grand Prix crown

Thirty-two gamers got here, now solely two Welshmen stay, as World Cup companions Gerwyn Worth and Jonny Clayton put together to lock horns in Saturday’s showpiece World Grand Prix last on the Morningside Enviornment, Leicester.

Worth is bidding to comply with in Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen’s footsteps by changing into the third participant in Grand Prix historical past to defend the coveted title, whereas Clayton is concentrating on his first televised rating crown.

‘The Ferret’ has established himself as one of many premier gamers in world darts by advantage of profitable the Masters and Premier League this yr, but with each tournaments unranked, his present standing as world No 13 is just not reflective of his exploits.

The sub-plots are fascinating. Clayton attributes his meteoric rise to his World Cup triumph alongside Worth final November, and now the world No 1 is aiming to halt the juggernaut he’s accountable for unleashing.

The defending champion has been battling the group as a lot as his opponents this week, and regardless of struggling for big intervals of the occasion, he has relinquished simply three units in advancing to the ultimate.

Clayton has produced a collection of glowing shows to achieve his eighth last of 2021, however Worth actually boasts the psychological edge over his compatriot.

This yr’s World Grand Prix has been suffering from uncertainty, however we are able to assure that the title shall be heading again to Wales. The query is, will or not it’s Markham or Pontyberem?

Historical past beckons for The Iceman?

Worth is concentrating on a sixth particular person main title when he meets Clayton in Saturday’s last

“Champions discover a manner, that is what they do.” Wayne Mardle’s remarks halfway by way of Worth’s semi-final showdown in opposition to Stephen Bunting proved prophetic, as ‘The Iceman’ roared again from 2-0 all the way down to maintain his title defence alive in dramatic vogue.

The world No 1 was in tungsten turmoil at one stage in opposition to ‘The Bullet’, however he overcame an damage scare and a hostile crowd to e book his place in a second consecutive Grand Prix last.

Previous to his last-four tussle, Worth’s progress had been comparatively serene. He navigated a possible banana pores and skin in spherical one to defeat world No 9 Michael Smith in straight units, changing into the seventh man to register a ton-plus common within the match’s historical past.

The world champion rallied from a set down to beat the veteran Mervyn King in spherical two, earlier than punishing a profligate show from two-time runner-up Dave Chisnall to finish a routine 3-0 win within the quarter-finals.

Clayton on cusp of maiden rating main

Clayton is hoping to comply with up his Masters and Premier League successes with a primary main rating title

‘The Ferret’ celebrated his forty seventh birthday by kicking off his marketing campaign with a complete straight-sets success over Callan Rydz, averaging 95 and changing 60 per cent of his ending doubles.

This set the precedent for his extraordinary consistency on the outer ring all through the week, as he bids to say a 3rd main title of 2021 and catapult himself contained in the world’s high eight.

The diminutive Welshman landed 4 ton-plus finishes to account for Jose De Sousa in a repeat of this yr’s Premier League last, earlier than recovering from 2-1 adrift to defeat World Matchplay semi-finalist Krzysztof Ratajski in an exciting last-eight tussle.

Clayton was changing 65 per cent of his ending doubles forward of his semi-final conflict in opposition to Danny Noppert, and he produced one other imperious show to account for Michael van Gerwen’s conqueror, operating out a 4-1 winner with a 94.82 common.

Worth: I would like to enhance

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Worth was relieved to achieve the World Grand Prix last after what he described as ‘certainly one of his worst performances’ in overcoming Stephen Bunting

“I dug in there till the top and fortunately received over the profitable line. It’s most likely one of many worst performances I’ve had [vs Bunting]. That was powerful.

“I used to be underneath a whole lot of stress and the group have been on my again. I used to be principally down and out and I needed to give myself a kick up the bottom.

“Jonny is sensible. He has performed unbelievable darts all match. It’s going to be a troublesome sport, however hopefully I can play rather a lot higher than I did within the semi-final, as a result of I must.

Clayton: I am over the moon

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Clayton was delighted after progressing to the World Grand Prix last on the expense of Danny Noppert

“I am over the moon. I got here right here to achieve the ultimate and I’ve executed it – it is unbelievable. I am happy with that win. Hopefully it’s my yr.

“The group are completely unbelievable. The help is superior. The Welsh flags are in all places, so I feel they needed an all-Welsh last.

“It’s good that I get fairly far in a rating match! I’m wanting ahead to it. Let’s have a look at what occurs.

Head-to-head report

Worth and Clayton led Wales to a maiden World Cup success in November 2020

Worth dominates the pair’s head-to-head report, having received 11 of their 16 clashes, and extra considerably, the world champion has received every of their final eight conferences.

Clayton got here out on high of their first two televised tussles, though it has been one-way visitors for ‘The Iceman’ since, and he has received their final three encounters by an mixture rating of 23-7.

The world No 1 ran out a complete 11-3 winner of their final tussle on the World Matchplay in July, and Clayton is bidding to topple Worth on the televised stage for the primary time since November 2017.

Nonetheless, their solitary showdown in a PDC last noticed ‘The Ferret’ declare an 8-5 victory over Worth within the Austrian Darts Open last again in April 2018. Can he repeat the feat tonight?

Can Clayton trigger an upset?

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Wayne Mardle and John Half debate whether or not Clayton can upset world No 1 Worth within the World Grand Prix last

Wayne Mardle: “Jonny is throwing with a superb rhythm. His ending stats all through the occasion have been like we have by no means seen earlier than. He’ll really feel like he has an actual likelihood.

“The damaging is when he performs Gerwyn, he usually under-performs, but when he wins he can go to world No 7. Are there six higher gamers on the earth than Jonny Clayton proper now?

“The reply isn’t any. He has simply proved once more that he is among the very, best on the earth. That is all Gerwyn Worth’s fault. He has created a monster!”

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Take a look at the perfect of the motion from the semi-finals of the World Grand Prix

John Half: “It’s thrilling. We really feel like Jonny is the in-form of the 2, however Worth is the chief of the pair. He has at all times had the dominance within the head-to-head matches.

“With Jonny, there is a deferral of kinds that goes on – to Gerwyn. He has a whole lot of respect for him, and he’s most likely grateful for the World Cup to start out him off on his path.

“He’s going to should be slightly extra aggressive, and play for him, not for Wales.”

Watch reside protection of the World Grand Prix last on Saturday from 8.30pm – be a part of us on Sky Sports activities Primary Occasion and Enviornment for the thrilling conclusion to seven days of darting drama