The Welshman won the title on his debut in 2021 and reached the final in each of these three full main event appearances.
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But after being ignored for the last two editions, the Welshman feels he has something to prove when he returns in 2026.
“I’ve complained enough about not being in this, so I’m back with a smile on my face and I have some proof that I should be in this,” he said.
“If you talk the talk, you’ve got to walk the walk. I’ve said I should have been in this, now I need to show why I should be in this.”
“I’m looking forward to this. I’m really ready for this.”
Few will feel like they are being written off more than Clayton, and already on the eve of the first night in Newcastle, the 2022 and 2023 semi-finalist got the impression that no one likes his chances.
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Clayton, the eighth and final player to address reporters at the Premier League media day, joked that tournament organizers did not expect him to taste more success as the trophy was not on the table during his interview, as was the case for the other seven participants.
The 51-year-old is also the big outsider among the bookmakers to win this year’s event, although that only adds fuel to the fire when it comes to ‘The Ferret’.
“It motivates me a lot because people don’t value me, they obviously value others more. We’ll see the night of the final,” he said.
Josh Rock, his opponent the first night, jokingly called Clayton the “old man” and said he expected the Pontyberem product to be “rusty.”
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But Clayton hopes his experience will prove beneficial against newcomer Rock.
“To be fair, he’s a good kid, very funny, confident and a great player,” Clayton added.
“He’s bouncing, he’s ready to go. But I’ve had the experience, so hopefully a little experience will help me get through it.”
Clayton’s ‘pain’ in 2025
Danny Noppert, James Wade and Nathan Aspinall were among those left disheartened by being excluded from this year’s event, the kind of crushing disappointment that Clayton himself felt in 2024 and 2025.
Perhaps this goes some way to explaining why the former Grand Prix, Masters, World Series and two-time World Cup of Darts champion is determined to grab his chance to once again impress on the biggest stages with both hands.
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“I’m not going to lie, I thought I had a good chance of being there last year. Obviously I’m disappointed I didn’t,” Clayton said.
“Last year I didn’t have any complaints, but last year it hurt a little and I wanted to do it again.
“I love this tournament. It’s my favorite tournament of all and I wanted to participate again. I’m back and now I have something to prove.”
And of his plans to mock the odds, Clayton concluded: “I’m going (to finals night). I’m going to go there and play, I’m not going to have to watch.”