Painter powers past Baxter as Harbour sails through at the World Seniors Darts Championship

Kevin Painter and Dennis Harbour are the latest players to secure safe passage into the last 16 of the 2023 World Seniors Darts Championship at the Circus Tavern following wins over Ronnie Baxter and Trina Gulliver.

With three World Championship final appearances between them, Painter's coming at the Circus Tavern, on paper this was one of the ties of the round. In the opening set it was Painter, the man who conquered Phil Taylor at last year's event who raced into an early lead despite some troubles on the outer ring, winning the first set 3-1.

The momentum continued to be on the side of The Artist as he took the opening leg of the second set and after Baxter slipped into double 5 when aiming for double top, Painter capitalised to stretch lead to two in the second set. A few moments later Painter was two sets to the good. Almost finish in style, The Artist dropped just low on tops for a 142 checkout before returning to nail double 10 and double his lead.

A sumptuous 65 checkout continued the relentless charge of Painter to open up the third set. With Baxter seemingly having no answer to the scoring power of his opponent, Painter comfortably moved a leg away from the win. After Painter had missed three darts for the match, Baxter failed to keep his hopes alive allowing The Artist to return a secure a comfortable 3-0 win.

With the most successful female player in history, Trina Gulliver up against the methodical Dennis Harbour, a close-fought battle was expected. The Harbour Master as he is known had different ideas however, taking the opening set in double quick time, sealing the whitewash set on double 3.

Harbour continued his march towards victory, breaking the Gulliver throw in the opening leg of the second set. The Golden Girl wasn't going down without a fight though, immediately breaking back to level up the set. After Gulliver missed two for double 17, Harbour punished to seal the third straight break of throw. The experienced English then pinned double 10 and secure himself a 2-0 lead as the players went off stage for the first break.

Gulliver fired in her first maximum of the match to set up 59 but after she failed to take out the checkout on her return, Harbour punished by taking out 65 on double top. Gulliver didn't have to wait long for her second 180 as she fired in another in the following leg and this time she managed to capitalise fully by pinning double 18 for the leg. As it turned out though, these were nothing but a final flourish from Gulliver as Harbour comfortably took the following two legs to seal a 3-0 win and a spot in the last 16.