Darts player Jonny Clayton nearly ended his career after the death of his father: what has changed.

According to The Sun: Darts player Jonny Clayton nearly left his profession after his father's death, but now he promises to return to his former form.

The former plasterer will begin his journey back to the World Grand Prix champion title, which he won in 2021, in a match against Andrew Gilding on Tuesday in Leicester.

Clayton, who is 51, lost his father John just over two years ago and admitted that he considered ending his career as he lost his inspiration to play.

Now the sixth-ranked player in the world claims he is returning to his best results for his children and wife.

“I lost my hero. To be honest, I just didn't want to play darts. There was no inspiration. I just didn't want to do it,” he says.

“My dad was a darts fan. He enjoyed everything related to darts. In a way, I played for him, if that makes sense.”

“It was just a hobby for me. My dad used to say: ‘you have something, you need to try harder’.”

Clayton added that after his father's death, his passion for darts disappeared:

“Darts wasn't on my priority list, to be honest.”

However, over time, his wife and children convinced him to continue playing. “I looked at my wife and children and said: ‘okay, I will try for you’,” he adds.

Getting back into shape

“It takes time to overcome some obstacles. But once you regain the hunger for victory and a smile on your face, confidence becomes much more important,” notes Clayton.

“I feel like I'm heading in the right direction. My form is slowly returning. I have a smile on my face again, and darts are going well.”

Clayton understands that winning in this game is extremely important:

“There’s nothing better than the feeling of victory. You have to learn to lose because you can’t win everything.”

He believes he has a chance to beat new champions like Luke Littler and Luke Humphries, as they are not invincible.

“Everyone can be beaten if it's your day. They have to play well to beat you,” he emphasizes.

Clayton hopes to lift the World Darts Championship trophy this year.

“If I were to choose a year, this would be the year!”

*Jonny Clayton is playing in the BOYLE Sports World Grand Prix in Leicester from October 6 to 12. Check BOYLESports.com. 18+ BeGambleAware

This tournament is an important event in the darts calendar, and for Clayton, it will be an opportunity to revive his career and return to glory. Despite the challenging times, the darts player is ready to fight for titles again, and his family has become his main source of inspiration.

Clayton's return to competition marks a new chapter in his life. His journey to recovery could serve as an example to many athletes facing similar challenges. Everyone is waiting to see how he performs in upcoming matches and whether he can once again gain recognition on the biggest darts stage.