Darts player Jonny Clayton reveals he almost quit darts after the tragic death of his father who passed away suddenly in July 2023

Darts player Jonny Clayton has revealed he almost quit darts following the death of his father last year.

World number seven Clayton secured his spot in the fourth round of the World Darts Championship after surviving a late charge from Daryl Gurney to win 4-3 at Alexandra Palace.

But following his triumphant win an emotional Clayton admitted he came close to calling it a day in the sport when his father, John, passed away suddenly in July 2023.

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.

When I lost my dad – and I don’t want to keep going on about it as it is old news – it hurt. He was my inspiration to keep playing. I said, ‘That is it – I don’t want to do it any more.’ 

World number seven Clayton secured his spot in the fourth round of the World Darts Championship after surviving a late charge from Daryl Gurney to win 4-3 at Alexandra Palace 

Following his triumphant win an emotional Clayton admitted he came close to calling it a day in the sport when his father, John, passed away suddenly in July 2023

The former plasterer from Pontyberem, who just turned 50, went on further to say that he is far from his best despite claiming victories over both Mickey Mansell and Gurney in his opening games at the World Championship.

The Welsh player bravely admitted his father’s death still holds emotion over him as he has struggled to cope with his passing but revealed he returned to the oche as he wants to win for his his wife and kids. 

‘The guys were flying to Australia or New Zealand for the World Series and I lost my dad on the morning of that flight,’ Clayton said.

‘At that time, the guys were away for three weeks and being at home gave me too much time to think.

‘I had lost everything. That was it. I thought, I cannot be bothered. 

‘And at the beginning of this year, I was rubbish, I could not put anything together. But when you have a family looking up at you, and friends that believe in you, it means a lot, so I said I would give it a chance. 

‘You are playing a hobby you are good at – give it another go. That is what I am trying to do.

Clayton later revealed he returned to the sport as he wants to win for his wife and kids 

‘The second half of this year, my darts started to wake up, I won a ProTour, went deep in them. Little things like that happen and give you belief.

‘I couldn’t even tell you when it was, but you felt good, I played better. 

‘I got belief there. I want to win it for my wife and kids. That is what you look at. It’s a hobby and hopefully I can carry on for a long time.”