Painter produces superb comeback win in high quality Dudbridge clash, Thornton dispatches Duff to keep World Seniors title defence alive

PDC
Sunday, 12 February 2023 at 17:51
kevin painter wsdtwc20231408
The semi-finals are set at the 2023 World Seniors Darts Championship with Kevin Painter set to face Robert Thornton in the battle of the two favourites for the title at the Circus Tavern.
Painter produced a piece of artistry as he fended off Mark Dudbridge in one of the best ties of the tournament so far 3-1 with six 180's and a high checkout of 151 en route.
This after he started slowly and was 1-0 in sets and 2-0 down to 'Flash' who looked potentially set to live up to his moniker and end the charge of 'The Artist' comfortably.
But he snatched the deciding leg with a 98 checkout to make it 1-1 and pivotally in the next set, Painter stole it after Dudbridge missed two darts at double 16 in a real turning point as Painter went into the lead.
In the end after a second double 20 on the 100 checkout went begging, Painter returned for 54 with the trademark snarl at the board and hit double 20 to seal a superb win.
But in Thornton next, he takes on the player who has been the benchmark at the Circus Tavern this weekend once again and a player who defeated Painter last year to reach the final.
He finally lost a set in the tournament against Neil Duff but despite that produced the best seen so far in a 3-1 sets win with six 180's and a 98.7 average. 'The Thorn' is set to go 500 miles back with the title again seemingly.
The start was blistering as he produced a 107.5 average to begin with four 180's in a set and this came down but he still eased into a 2-0 lead.
Only for Duff to show some fight and resolve to snatch a set back but pinning his double 20, Thornton took the tie in the following set. The man to beat again?