Classy Jonny Clayton clinically thrashes Stephen Bunting, faces James Wade for spot in World Matchplay Final

Jonny Clayton will face James Wade in the first semi-final of the 2025 World Matchplay after ending the run of Stephen Bunting. While Wade saw off Gian van Veen.

It was a brutally good win from Clayton who continues his excellent form and is into his second World Matchplay semi-final after a dominant win over Bunting with a 98 average and 50% on the doubles.

Clayton had an utter dream start to his tie against Bunting racing ahead into a 5-0 lead with a 110.5 average and a high checkout of 160 without reply against a shell shocked Bullet.

But Bunting hit back. He won three out of the next five legs to reduce the deficit at the second interval as Clayton’s average decreased and he found his way into the game.

But Clayton despite that continued to build and was into a 7-3 lead. Bunting broke for 7-4 down hitting double two but the Welshman hit double 16 for 8-4 down to break straight down.

He held throw from there with a 70 checkout for 9-4. Bunting held with a 79 checkout but he continued to be under pressure with Clayton sat waiting to break again.

But Clayton continued to saunter away. He hit an 81 checkout on double 12 for 11-6 for an 11-darter. The pivotal moment came at 13-7 as Bunting was sat on 78 to hold and Clayton took out 76 to break and then held from there for 14-7.

Clayton then broke again with a 108 checkout for 15-7 and was one away from a stunning win. He pinned 118 to seal a clinical win.

Class Wade takes down Van Veen

James Wade is back in the semi-finals at the World Matchplay again as alluded to and now faces Jonny Clayton after taking down Gian van Veen.

It was youth over experience that triumphed in the first tie as Wade motored past Gian van Veen 16-13 to begin proceedings. As a result it was a tenth semi-final at the Winter Gardens for Wade who albeit won’t be favourite to win through to the final perhaps should be.

The Machine continues to have a love affair with Blackpool and is playing some of his best darts in a long time whether he wants to admit that or not. He saw off the flying Dutchman who after a great opening few days for the Netherlands was the sole survivor.

He also led proceedings very early on. He fired in finishes of 96 and 84 en route to a commanding 4-1 lead at the first break. Wade had missed 11 darts at doubles though so he certainly wasn’t firing.

But that changed post break as he kicked off the eighth leg with back-to-back 180’s and pinned 86 on the bull. He was suddenly level at 4-4 and was looking to build on that impetus. Build he did as he surged into five legs on the spin to seize control averaging around the ton mark in the process.

After leading 6-4. He broke again with a 14-darter after Van Veen had missed darts to hold and Wade made it 8-4. It was a 9-4 lead though as he held from there to cement it and he went to double figures very soon after at 10-5 winning nine out of the previous 10 legs.

Wade saw his deficit cut drastically though and needed to turn on the taps again for the great darts to flow. Van Veen made it 12-8 reducing the deficit to four and then five missed darts at doubles from Wade gifted Van Veen a break back via double three to close the gap to 13-10.

Van Veen made it 13-11 and was suddenly a break and a hold away from drawing level. But that he did not get as Wade pounced. Van Veen squandered two darts at double 16 and Wade hit double six to make it 14-11 and a 78 checkout on throw saw him go one away at 15-12.

He held from there on his favourite double 10 seal the win and move through superbly in Blackpool. Will The Machine reign again eight years after his first?