Darts Jul 04, 2026

Darts Players Championship 19: Jeffrey De Graaf beats Johnny Clayton to win second PDC Tour title

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By Admin
Sports Journalist
Darts Players Championship 19: Jeffrey De Graaf beats Johnny Clayton to win second PDC Tour title

Jeffrey de Graaf has secured his second PDC title after beating Johnny Clayton 8-5 in the final of the Players Championship 19 in Milton Keynes.

The 35-year-old capped off an impressive day with a Pro Tour victory after overcoming top seed Wessel Nijman and the winner of Players Championship 18 - and last weekend's Baltic Sea Darts Open - Luke Woodhouse, in the quarter and semi-finals respectively.

De Graaf averaged 101.11 against Premier League Darts opposition in Clayton and compounded his opponent's misery after the Welshman's 10-9 loss to Luke Humphries on Finals Night.

The victory is his first since his maiden tournament crown in August 2025 and earned him £15,000 in prize money, which lifted him up six places to 50th in the Order of Merit.

De Graaf was made to work from the off - coming from 4-2 down to beat Czech Karel Sedlacek in the opening round - but appeared to seize the momentum from his comeback win as he saw off Adam Lipscombe in a more controlled 6-4 win in the last 64.

He then edged a thriller against Josh Rock in the last 32, winning the last two legs against the odds, before beating Bradley Brooks 6-2 in the last 16.

Woodhouse posed a serious threat to De Graaf's tournament hopes, with his opponent having won his last two tournaments on the bounce, but "The Rebel" produced a sublime 170 finish and sruvived four match darts to book his place in the final.

De Graaf leapt out to a 3-1 lead in the final before Clayton responded with two sublime legs to level the contest - but a run of three legs on the bounce allowed Clayton no way back into the contest before finishing with double nine to take the title.

"The final was great. It felt like I couldn't miss," De Graaf told PDC TV. "My finishing was really good today, especially at important times. That is what got me over the line.

"This is my third year now with a Tour Card - the first two years, it was very inconsistent. I had a good day and that saved my year. This year, I've been way more consistent.

"On the other side, this is already the 19th [Players Championship] tournament and I hadn't had a deep run. So it's amazing I got the win!

"I just want to improve, and then the results will come in the end."

The Swede has won his second tournament at the right time - he is set to represent his nation at the World Cup of Darts live on Your Site from June 11-14.

Last 16
Wessel Nijman 6-1 James Hurrell
Jeffrey de Graaf 6-2 Bradley Brooks
Mickey Mansell 6-3 Andrew Gilding
Luke Woodhouse 6-2 Mervyn King
William O'Connor 6-2 Ross Smith
Rob Cross 6-2 Charlie Manby
Cristo Reyes 6-1 Rob Owen
Jonny Clayton 6-5 Stephen Rosney

Quarter-finals
Jeffrey de Graaf 6-4 Wessel Nijman
Luke Woodhouse 6-4 Mickey Mansell
Rob Cross 6-5 William O'Connor
Jonny Clayton 6-1 Cristo Reyes

Semi-finals
Jeffrey de Graaf 7-6 Luke Woodhouse
Jonny Clayton 7-4 Rob Cross

Final
Jeffrey de Graaf 8-5 Jonny Clayton

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