"I’d have won plenty more if it wasn’t for a certain Mr Taylor" - Kevin Painter assesses darts career while offering update on dartitis woes

Kevin Painter has since stepped away from competing on the PDC Tour. He enjoyed a magnificent career in the sport, blighted by Phil Taylor's dominance, as he spoke very candidly about his dartitis.

Set to compete down in Portsmouth on MODUS Live Lounge on Super Series duty, the former Players Championship Finals champion is still playing against some very talented players, looking to roll back the years and rise up to that level he once reached. While dartitis is halting his ambitions, he is still determined to get to the bottom of it and continue playing darts.

Reminiscing on his time in the sport, Painter could safely say that he had a very fruitful and successful time at the top of darts. “Looking back on my career, I’d say it was pretty successful," he began by saying. "I turned pro in 1995, played in the BDO and won several Opens before moving to the PDC in 2000. I think it would’ve been a bit of an injustice had I not won a TV major, so I’m glad I did.

“A lot of great players won’t have that pleasure. I was there or thereabouts for many years and I’m sure I’d have won plenty more if it wasn’t for a certain Mr Taylor, but a lot of players could say the same.”

Him and Taylor have had a lot of history together on the oche. They faced off in the 2004 PDC World Darts Championship final, in which 'The Power' won 7-6 in a hugely enthralling encounter. A year later, they clashed in the quarter-final, on the oche and off of it.

Painter was constantly looking for bullseye finishes throughout the match, but this plan was undone by the brilliance of Taylor who deliberately left 50 for the match before pinning the bull in victorious fashion. Painter did not take kindly to this, arguing with his opponent for a few minutes after proceedings.

He has also had a scuffle in a non-televised tournament with two-time world champion Adrian Lewis, resulting in a three month ban for 'The Artist', two od which being suspended with Lewis taking a harsher punishment.

It is fair to say that he they may not have been their best friends away from stage as he kept his cards close to his chest on who his best pals were. “I had lots of pals on the circuit. It’d be unfair to single anyone out," he admitted.

When competing, Painter was synonymous with licking his finger before throwing the dart. Many players do that, as he noted, while explaining the thinking behind it. "Plenty of players lick their fingers before throwing – Gezzy Price, Andy Hamilton and many more. It’s about getting grip initially, then it turns into a natural habit.”

Painter competed amongst some of the best players in the world on his time at the top. Obviously Taylor was the main one with him scooping up most of the accolades and titles. Painter made the transition from the BDO to the PDC in 2001 where a wealth of talent were making their name.

As time has gone on, a lot has changed surrounding the sport. The 58-year-old attempted to put his finger on the thing that has altered the most. “Nowadays there’s a lot more money in the game, stricter behaviour rules etc. and a lot more youngsters playing the game. When I started around 1984 there were hardly any young players, no academies etc. It’s taken a lot more seriously I’d say, with players trying to keep fitter and healthier… not all of them though.”

The money in the sport is now immense. Luke Littler took home £1 million following his most recent World Championship title. A lot of this has been based off the 'Littler Effect'. While darts as a sport was growing, Littler has taken it to the next level with prize money one of the main factors.

However, there are still some discussion with what is handed out. For example, following the increase in all the tournaments, losing in the first round of a Players Championship match gets you nothing still. A contentious decision for many echoed by a sympathetic Painter.

“Difficult question really. We all know Barry Hearn’s thoughts – don’t pay losers etc. Maybe a couple of hundred pounds for expenses wouldn’t hurt," he said.

In truth, there was not really much left to fix from his perspective. “I think it’s all going pretty well, isn’t it? Don’t try to fix what isn’t broken, as they say. If anything, it’s maybe the Premier League format that’s always debated, as seeing the same players all the time bores people, but there’s no easy fix with that.”

Painter's demise in darts came from the dreaded dartitis. He went through absolute misery not being able to release the dart out of his hands.

“It’s been over two years now with dartitis. Very frustrating. It’s nowhere near as bad as it was at the beginning, but enough to affect my performance a fair bit. But I won’t let it beat me – that’s not in my DNA.”

As he tries to battle back from it, he offers some advice on what he would and has been doing. “It’s easy to say just carry on etc., but if you have it, it’s not that easy as the frustration is unbearable at times," he commented.

"I’ve seen a therapist, Chris O’Connor from Eccleston Park Therapy, and he helped me a lot. Many people suggest different things. The best advice would be to see Chris and try things. Something may work.”

With the World Matchplay coming up, there are a lot of talent looking to win big on TV for the very first time. Littler will attempt to defend his title won last year with the chasing pack wanting the chance to close the gap on 'The Nuke' in the second biggest tournament of the year.

Looking at the event in Blackpool and beyond, Painter was tasked by stating who will be the next first-time televised major winner. He did not hesitate with his answer. "Wessel Nijman." The Dutchman has already won eight titles this year, six on the floor and two on the European Tour, and is in blistering form, winning countless games and producing high averages.

This has been regularly seen on the European Tour, where this conversation next headed. Painter was queried whether players on the Challenge Tour who get called up for ProTour action deserve to get a shot at qualifying for European Tour competitions. “Yes, I can’t see why not.”

Finally, he backed the idea of Scotland, Wales and Ireland to have a European Tour competition each. There has been much murmuring about Ireland getting one with a number of darters and fans advocating that prospect, including Painter. “Yes, one in each of those countries would be fair," he concluded.