On Sunday night, Jonny Clayton and Keane Barry combined to produce the best match so far of the 2022 World Darts Championship.
World number eight Clayton defeated 19-year-old Meathman Barry 3-2.
The game featured a record-breaking number of 100-plus finishes, 10 in all, with both players contributing equally. It is the most ever for a best of five sets World Championship match.
Clayton won the first set 3-1, though Barry did take the opening leg with a 104 checkout.
🇮🇪☘️👀A big finish from Keane Barry to break Jonny Clayton in the opening leg!
📺 Sky Sports Darts
📲 Live blog: https://t.co/YI16dxbxV3
#️⃣ #LoveTheDarts pic.twitter.com/IJXVM7ncOZ— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) December 19, 2021
The teenager was unperturbed by the setback, and fought to a 2-1 lead. He took the second set 3-2, and the third 3-1.
After Barry took the first leg of the fourth set, Welshman Clayton took over. He won the next six legs to claim the match.
"It was a fantastic game," Clayton, the Premier League and Grand Prix champion told Sky Sports.
"All credit to Keane, fair play to him, he never gave me a chance to relax. It was a fantastic game. That's probably one of my favourite games that I've ever played in."
Jonny Clayton vs Keane Barry classic at World Darts Championship
🧐𝘼 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙘𝙠 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨?
😲Keane Barry with a 122 checkout to take a 2-1 lead against Jonny Clayton!
📺 Sky Sports Darts
📲 Live blog: https://t.co/YI16dxbxV3
#️⃣ #LoveTheDarts pic.twitter.com/TwVWimFCoQ— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) December 19, 2021
🚨 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗗 🚨
🔟 ton-plus checkouts - a combined record in a best of five sets match at the World Championship 🔥#WHDarts pic.twitter.com/dIJzeYiHpA
— Live Darts (@livedarts) December 19, 2021
Sky Sports analyst Wayne Mardle called it a "stunning game".
"I think that's the best match we've seen," he said.
"It's a shame that Keane wilted in that last set, but who wouldn't wilt at that, Jonny Clayton with 103.70 average, all those finishes, it was stunning from him. He was under it, he was really under [pressure from Keane Barry].
"Full credit to Keane Barry because he was dealing with Johnny, who was playing well. He was doing everything that he needed to do. It was only that last set where he kind of got found out. Once your form goes a little against these big hitters, you can panic a little.
"Keane Barry, 19-years-old, he's got such a great future in this game."
🏴Clayton completes the comeback!
🎯The Ferret trailed 1-2, but won six consecutive legs to seal the victory!
📺 Sky Sports Darts
📲 Live blog: https://t.co/YI16dxbxV3
#️⃣ #LoveTheDarts pic.twitter.com/w9MEVx1cTD— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) December 19, 2021
See Also: Rachael Blackmore Named BBC World Sports Star Of The Year
