CLAYTON CHOKER

Jonny sneaks emotional win

- MIKE WALTERS

JONNY CLAYTON revealed he almost quit darts after the death of his father last year, saying: "I'd lost everything, I couldn't be bothered." "The Ferret' pulled out of a late nosedive to pip Daryl Gurney 4-3 and reach the last 16 at Alexandra Palace yesterday.

But the popular former plasterer from Pontyberem admitted he was close to packing up his arrows and returning to sweet home alabaster when his father, John, died suddenly in July 2023 and his form on the oche slumped.

He said: "It was over, I won't lie to you. I had no interest, I didn't want to play the game, I didn't want to travel. It meant nothing to me.

"Darts is my hobby. For some of these youngsters it's their job, but this has always been my hobby.