Can the Bully Boy keep up against favourite Clayton?
Darts fans can look forward to a first real clash between two potential favourites for the World Championship title on Wednesday evening at the Ally Pally. Jonny Clayton will meet Michael Smith. The odds are in favour of the Welshman, who after a stellar 2021 is almost on a par with his compatriot Gerwyn Price when it comes to assessing the chances of all players to win the title.
For the “ferret”, as Clayton is known, to make it into the quarter-finals, he will have to overcome a real challenge. His opposite number Michael Smith may not be in the best form of his life, but he is always capable of outstanding scoring. In his 4-2 win in the previous round, for example, the Englishman hit ten 180s…
Apart from that, a suitable and valid Clayton vs Smith prediction should take into account that the Welshman is in the last 16 of the World Championship for the first time in his career. Will his lack of experience in long matches on the big stage now be his undoing? We can very well imagine that the players will duel at a high level and we will see a high-class as well as, above all, exciting match.
Jonny Clayton – Statistics & current form
Jonny Clayton is certainly one of the rising stars of 2021, with many even calling the 47-year-old Welshman perhaps the best and most consistent professional throughout the calendar year. Clayton won the 2021 Premier League, took the Masters title and also triumphed in the World Series of Darts and the important World Grand Prix. Four successes that many of his colleagues don’t get on their letterhead in their whole career.
As a result of these great results, the man who goes by the player name “The Ferret” has climbed up to position 8 in the world rankings. In the odds for the overall winner of this World Championship, Clayton is only behind his compatriot Price. Despite the successes mentioned, Clayton, who is still quite inexperienced at Alexandra Palace, is therefore perhaps even somewhat overrated. Before this season, his best result at the World Championships was a third-round finish…
Does Clayton get weaker at the distance?
The right-hander also had to survive a few tricky moments in his first two matches. Especially in the opening match against underdog Barry from Ireland the adventure in London was almost over. Despite a 103 average and a 50% check out rate Clayton lost two sets against the youngster.
In the third round he had less problems against the German Gaga Clemens, marked again an average of more than 100 points, but missed 20 throws on the double fields. A temporary weakness, which he should not allow himself against the scoring machine Michael Smith. But all in all, these statistics are definitely a reason to bet on six or more sets between Clayton and Smith.
We don’t believe in an outright success this time, especially as the Welshman showed some weaknesses over a longer distance, for example in the Players Championship final against Peter Wright (6:11) or in the Grand Slam against World Champion Price (12:16).
Last matches of Jonny Clayton:
World Darts Championship
12/27 2021 – Jonny Clayton 4 – 0 Gabriel Clemens
12/19 2021 – Jonny Clayton 3 – 2 Keane Barry
Players Championship Finals
11/28 2021 – Peter Wright 11 – 6 Jonny Clayton
11/28 2021 – Jonny Clayton 10 – 3 Vincent van der Voort
11/27 2021 – Jonny Clayton 10 – 9 Luke Humphries
Michael Smith – Statistics & current form
The “Bully Boy” Michael Smith is very popular with the fans. This is partly due to his emotionality on stage, which he has been able to channel a little better over the years, but also due to the impressive power scoring that the right-hander, born in 1990 in St Helens, near Liverpool, can conjure up on the board. If Smith feels the momentum, a few seconds later one arrow after the next is stuck in the triple 20. Exactly such phases need the number nine of the seed list on Wednesday evening some.
Smith needs to score, score and score
Until now, the 2019 World Cup finalist had only flashed what he was made of. The bully boy even lost two sets against William Connor, but became stronger and stronger at the back and ended up with a solid average of 97 points. Ten 180s were further proof of his good performance. At the same time this number is one of the reasons why it might make sense to predict between Clayton and Smith that the 31-year-old will throw more maximums than his opponent.
In general we expect a match in which many legs and many sets will be played. Given the scoring quality of both players, it will be difficult to break the other’s opening leg. In addition, with the rankings eighth and ninth two professionals face each other on equal terms, although it must be considered that Michael Smith has played the weaker year 2021 and could not build on the successes of past days.
Last games of Michael Smith:
World Darts Championship
12/27 2021 – Michael Smith 4 – 2 William O’Connor
12/21 2021 – Michael Smith 3 – 0 Ron Meulenkamp
Players Championship Finals
11/27 2021 – Michael Smith 5 – 6 Daryl Gurney
11/26 2021 – Michael Smith 6 – 3 William Borland
Grand Slam of Darts Final Stage
11/21 2021 – Peter Wright 16 – 12 Michael Smith
Jonny Clayton – Michael Smith Direct Comparison / H2H Record
Although we would prefer a prediction on the Welshman in the Clayton vs Smith clash, it should be mentioned that the Bully Boy has enjoyed being at the oche against the Ferret in the past. The Englishman has won five of the eight meetings. The only match in the current calendar year, however, went 6-2 to Clayton.
Nevertheless it should be noted that this is the first time the two professionals will face each other in such a long match. There can be a maximum of 35 legs on Wednesday evening. Therefore, we think it is very realistic that the mark of 23.5 legs will be broken. We do not believe in a sovereign or dominant victory of one of the two players.
Jonny Clayton – Michael Smith Tip
The World Championship gets its first real cracker on Wednesday night. Sure, there have already been some matches that had an appealing level of two prominent players, nevertheless, the match Clayton against Smith is eagerly awaited. On the one hand, because the Welshman is considered by the bookmakers as one of the most promising candidates for the World Championship title. On the other hand, because the fans in the Ally Pally will of course cheer on their English local hero.
Furthermore, it will be a duel of two professionals who have a strong scoring, play a quite fast rhythm and can therefore push each other. A high number of 180s can therefore not be ruled out. Also before the match Clayton vs Smith the betting odds on 24 or more legs are of increased interest.
We still decide to bet on at least six sets in the last 16 between Jonny Clayton and Michael Smith. It is rather unlikely that one of the two players will win 4:1 or 4:0, especially as they are neighbours in the seedings and have already proved in the tournament so far that they are a force to be reckoned with.
