PDC World Darts Championship 2025 results: Jonny Clayton beats Mickey Mansell in sudden-death leg

Jonny Clayton pulled off a sensational final-set comeback to beat Mickey Mansell in a sudden-death 3-2 win in the second round of the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship.

The Welsh number seven seed was a leg away from defeat twice to his Northern Irish opponent, but came from behind to win the final set 6-5 in a sudden-death leg.

Clayton lost the opening set of the match, as he looked to avoid becoming the 12th seed to be knocked out, but fought back to lead 2-1.

He was pegged back by 51-year-old Mansell, who then missed match darts on double tops in the deciding set.

The Welshman will face either Daryl Gurney or Florian Hempel in the third round after the three-day Christmas break.

Clayton, who is in the favourable half of the draw following shock second-round exits for former world champions Michael Smith and Gary Anderson, found himself 2-0 down in the fifth and final set after consecutive 136 and 154 checkouts from Mansell.

To stay in the match, Clayton won three legs on the trot in 15, 12 and 10 darts to wrestle a 3-2 lead, with the final set needing to be won by two clear legs.

In the sixth leg of the set, Clayton missed three darts for the match as Mansell levelled at 3-3 before his unseeded opponent broke Clayton’s throw to lead 4-3.

Mansell then missed a dart at double 20 for the match on a 96 out as Clayton levelled at 4-4.

Clayton and Mansell exchanged holds of throw to take the final set to a deciding leg, which Clayton won on double five after two missed checkouts.