Jonny Clayton produced a sensational display of darts in Rosmalen on Tuesday night to win Players Championship 14, lifting his seventh career title on the Pro Tour. The Welshman was unstoppable throughout the day and capped it off with a dominant 8–2 victory over Dominik Gruellich in the final, averaging a blistering 109.68.
💥 Red-hot Clayton outclasses debut finalist Gruellich
Facing Dominik Gruellich — a rising star and Development Tour standout playing in his first-ever Pro Tour final — Clayton immediately stamped his authority on the match. After two opening holds, Clayton broke in 17 darts, followed by a lightning-fast 11-darter to take a 3–1 lead.
Gruellich showed resilience with a 13-dart hold, but Clayton responded with another 11-darter and a 17-dart break, stretching the score to 5–2. From there, “The Ferret” turned on the style: a 121 checkout for a 12-darter, a 13-dart break, and another 121 finish in 12 darts to close out the final in style.
It was a clinical masterclass, as Clayton boasted a 61.5% checkout rate, hit four 180s, and notched six ton-plus averages across the day.
🎯 Players Championship 14 – Final Result
| Player | Average | 100+ | 140+ | 180s | High Checkout | Checkout % | Doubles Hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jonny Clayton | 109.68 | 15 | 9 | 4 | 121 | 61.5% | 8/13 |
| Dominik Gruellich | 92.24 | 11 | 7 | 1 | 104 | 40.0% | 2/5 |
🔥 Road to the Title – Key Results
Final
- 🏆 Jonny Clayton (109.68) 8–2 (92.24) Dominik Gruellich
Semi-Finals
- Dominik Gruellich (95.12) 7–4 (90.53) Michael Smith
- Jonny Clayton (103.56) 7–3 (91.88) Danny Noppert
Quarter-Finals
- Gruellich 6–5 van Duijvenbode
- Smith 6–2 Pietreczko
- Noppert 6–1 Mansell
- Clayton 6–0 Wade
Top 16 Highlights
- Clayton averaged 95.04 in a 6–1 win over van Gerwen
- Ricardo Pietreczko (101.84) edged Gerwyn Price (103.77) in one of the matches of the day
⚡ Clayton’s Statement Win
This victory confirms that Jonny Clayton is very much a force to be reckoned with heading into the business end of the season. With ruthless finishing, relentless scoring, and unshakable composure, he left no doubt about his title credentials.
Gruellich, despite the defeat, has plenty to be proud of — defeating the likes of Michael Smith and Dirk van Duijvenbode en route to his maiden final is no small feat.
Ben Evans is a passionate darts writer with a keen eye for statistics and news. With years of experience following the PDC scene, Ben brings in-depth coverage of tournaments, player performances, and emerging dart trends. Known for his detailed analysis and love for the game, he keeps fans updated with the latest stats, match insights, and memorable moments. When he’s not covering the action on the oche, Ben enjoys a game of darts, staying sharp on the sport he loves.