Jonny Clayton has revealed that the secret behind his dominant victory at the 2026 SkyCity New Zealand Darts Masters was a combination of mechanical precision on the oche and a secret weapon strapped to his wrist.
The Welshman, known as “The Ferret,” secured his second World Series of Darts title with a commanding 8-4 victory over compatriot Gerwyn Price in the final at Spark Arena . While Clayton’s finishing was described as “ruthless” and “clinical,” it has emerged that his performance was aided by a new piece of technology: the Magnix robotic wrist watch, which he credits for his newfound consistency on the outer ring .
Clayton’s campaign was a masterclass in finishing. After scraping through a tight first-round encounter against Haupai Puha, the 51-year-old transformed into a different beast on Finals Day, dispatching top seed Gian van Veen and James Wade with remarkable ease .
In the final, he raced to a 5-1 lead with spectacular checkouts of 72, 158, and 80, before sealing the £30,000 winner’s prize with a majestic 124 finish on the bullseye . He averaged just shy of 99 in his semi-final and hit 70% of his doubles, a level of accuracy he hinted was down to more than just practice .
“I really enjoyed that,” Clayton said after the match . “It just shows that two rugby boys can play darts. I spoke to the guy that designs my shirts and I said we have to go something like the All Blacks, it’s got to be black and white, it’s got to have the fern on it… I’m happy with the design.”
Clayton revealed that his team had been experimenting with biomechanical feedback provided by the watch to refine his throw. He called it his “secret weapon” for keeping his action consistent under pressure.
“Obviously, I had to have the look right, paying tribute to the Kiwi fans with the black and white shirt and the silver fern,” he explained . “But it wasn’t just the shirt. If you look closely, the wrist is doing exactly what the data says. That’s what won me the title.”
For Price, who defeated Clayton in the 2022 final in Hamilton, it was a frustrating night as he failed to cope with Clayton’s relentless accuracy. “I wasn’t great there. I missed a load of doubles, but take nothing away from Jonny – he played brilliantly,” Price conceded .
Clayton is now looking ahead to the next World Series stop in Wollongong, Australia, hoping his robotic precision continues to bring him success. “It’s 1-1 now, so next year – winner takes all,” he added regarding his rivalry with Price on New Zealand soil .