Clayton downs Price in all-Welsh final to claim maiden NZ Darts Masters title

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/clayton-jonny/tx0y2xRD/"]Clayton[/a] clinched his second World Series of Darts title with three impressive performances on Finals Day, overcoming [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-veen-gian/jgT1AT29/"]Gian van Veen[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wade-james/MRrXjBAB/"]James Wade[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/price-gerwyn/8dDDoW0B/"]Price[/a] at Spark Arena.[/p][p]The 51-year-old had lost to Price in the 2022 final in Hamilton, but gained revenge in front of 5,000 fans.[/p][p][b]Clayton made a fast start, converting finishes of 72, 158, 80 and 62 to establish a 5-1 lead. Price then struggled on the doubles as Clayton moved 7-1 ahead.[/b][/p][p]Price won three successive legs and threatened a comeback, but Clayton held his nerve to finish the match with a superb 124 checkout on the bull.[/p][embed guid="e993c2f4-4e4b-4327-b0fb-7d0f1719bb80" url="https://x.com/OfficialPDC/status/2088579706735984786?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]“It was great to play in the final with my World Cup partner,” [/b]said Clayton after the final. [/p][p][b]“It just shows that two rugby boys can play darts, and to play against each other in the world of rugby here in New Zealand, I’ve got a smile on my face.[/b][/p][p]“I really enjoyed that. It’s 1-1 now, so next year - (the) winner takes all![/p][p][b]“I’m looking forward to Wollongong next week. Hopefully the sun will shine on me and I can lift another trophy.”[/b][/p][image alt="Clayton poses with the trophy" id="bcad3aa8-3db3-4b69-8d1b-a6af833e8fc6" credit-line="Stephen Parker / Photosport" guid="9a236db1-f364-47e8-85e2-696519187901" original-width="1600" original-height="2325" /][p]Clayton had begun Finals Day with a 6-3 victory over top seed Van Veen, hitting six of seven attempts at double.[/p][p]He then beat Wade 7-2 in the semi-finals, averaging just under 99 and converting 70% of his attempts at double.[/p][p]Price reached his first World Series final of 2026 after sweeping aside Australian pair [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/heta-damon/GYfQQCI6/"]Damon Heta[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/smith-raymond/pvhgBhO5/"]Raymond Smith[/a], having beaten [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cleaver-mark/vkF0tSq8/"]Mark Cleaver[/a] in Friday’s opening round.[/p][image alt="Price reacts during the final" id="0862bf63-90be-48a1-8dc7-099092dccddc" credit-line="Stephen Parker / Photosport" guid="b8f868db-5201-42b2-8978-d467e1a731ab" original-width="2000" original-height="1323" /][p][b]“I wasn’t great there. I missed a load of doubles, but take nothing away from Jonny - he played brilliantly,” [/b]said Price.[/p][p][b]“For me, just to win one game this week was fantastic with everything I’ve gone through.[/b][/p][p][b]“To get to a final is a big tap on my back, and I’ll be even better next week in Australia.”[/b][/p][p]The World Series of Darts continues in Wollongong next weekend with the Australian Darts Masters at the WIN Entertainment Centre on 21-22 August.[/p][p]The World Series of Darts Finals will then take place in Amsterdam from 17-20 September, where 32 players will compete for the title.[/p][h2]Results[/h2][p][b]Quarter-finals[/b][/p][p]Jonny Clayton 6-3 Gian van Veen[/p][p]James Wade 6-4 Josh Rock[/p][p]Gerwyn Price 6-2 Damon Heta[/p][p]Raymond Smith 6-3 Adam Leek[/p][p][b]Semi-finals[/b][/p][p]Jonny Clayton 7-2 James Wade[/p][p]Gerwyn Price 7-2 Raymond Smith[/p][p][b]Final[/b][/p][p]Jonny Clayton 8-4 Gerwyn Price[/p][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/darts/new-zealand/nz-darts-masters/"]Catch up on the NZ Darts Masters with Flashscore[/a][/h2]