Jonny Clayton is relishing the prospect of renewing his partnership with Gerwyn Price at this year’s My Diesel Claim World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt.
Clayton and Price will represent Wales for a sixth consecutive year in the unique Pairs event, as the 2020 champions eye another slice of World Cup history.
The £450,000 event will see a record 40 teams competing for the coveted title at the Eissporthalle from June 15-18, with Wales one of four seeded nations set to enter at the last 16 knockout stage.
Clayton and Price succumbed to Australia’s history-makers Damon Heta and Simon Whitlock in last year’s decider, although the Welsh duo are the bookmakers’ favourites to triumph in this year’s new-look tournament.
“We must be doing something right – well one of us is,” quipped world number seven Clayton.
“To be in a team with Gerwyn Price in his current form is fantastic. I love the World Cup and it’s all Pairs this year, so I think it’s open for anybody.
“It’s a totally different game. It’s got to be done as a team and we’ve got to be firing from the word go, but I’m really looking forward to it.”
Wales will be the third seeds in Frankfurt, with World Champion Michael Smith and world number five Rob Cross pairing up for top seeds England.
Three-time World Cup winner Michael van Gerwen will partner former UK Open champion Danny Noppert for Netherlands, while the returning Gary Anderson teams up with Peter Wright for two-time champions Scotland.
Reigning champions Australia and former finalists Belgium, Republic of Ireland and Austria will also star alongside hosts Germany, and Clayton believes this year’s field is as strong as ever.
“There are fantastic teams in there,” added the former Premier League champion, who lifted four televised titles in 2021 following his maiden World Cup success.
“The Dutch will be strong. England will 100% be [contenders] with Michael Smith and Rob Cross. Damon Heta and Simon Whitlock are defending champions.
“Gary [Anderson] is playing again with Peter [Wright], so there are no easy games. It’s all about whoever clicks better as a team.
“We’ve won it once before and we want to do it again. I would love to kick off the same season I had last time!
“If we could lift that World Cup title again it would be fantastic.”
This week’s action in Frankfurt will mark Clayton’s first televised appearance since last month’s Premier League Play-Offs, where he was beaten by an imperious Price.
Price averaged 107 to run out an emphatic 10-2 winner in their all-Welsh semi-final, although Clayton is determined to take the positives from another impressive league campaign.
“I’ve made the Play-Offs three times in three years, so you’ve got to be happy with that,” continued the 48-year-old.
“At the end of the day I ran into a fantastic Gerwyn Price. I was beaten by the better player. He outplayed me and all I could do was shake his hand and say good luck in the final.
“The Premier League is over now, so I’m focused on the big tournaments coming up.
“I will try and recharge the batteries and we will see what the second-half of the season brings.”
Listen to the full exclusive interview with Jonny in the latest edition of The Darts Show Podcast – available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
The My Diesel Claim World Cup of Darts will be broadcast on Sky Sports for viewers in the UK & Ireland, through the PDC’s international broadcast partners, including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV for Rest of the World Subscribers.
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