Painter survives O'Shea comeback to prevail in World Seniors Darts Championship tie-break epic

Kevin Painter is through to the second round of the 2022 World Seniors Darts Championship where he will face Wayne Warren after an epic clash with Tony O'Shea went the way of 'The Artist'.

Painter saw O'Shea recover from 2-0 down to force a decider but it was eventually the former Players Champion who prevailed showing he still has the class on the big stage.

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Painter and O’Shea both exchanged holds of throw with the duo showing a high quality start to proceedings. ‘The Artist’ spurned three darts at double 20 for a hold but with O’Shea way back, Painter claimed a clean kill double 20 for 2-1.

Both players exchanged 180’s with O’Shea nearly going back-to-back with a bounceout denying him. He kept the set alive from there with a 42 checkout. Painter produced perfection again with a maximum en route to the opening set with an average of 90 in the set.

The high scoring continued as Painter hit a 140 only followed up by a 180 from O’Shea with double five being pinned to go 1-0 up. Painter levelled up to make it 1-1 as an entertaining start continued.

He took a break of throw and hit double 20 after initially missing 116 as he went 2-0 up in sets.

A 72 checkout saw Painter hold throw on return from the break. O’Shea levelled up the set with Painter not on a finish.

O’Shea missed 128 and Painter took out double two to go one away with a hold of throw. The former kept himself alive with a 76 checkout, he pinned double six to force another set as Painter couldn’t get it done.

A deciding set was forced from there and it went to 2-2 with the match needing to be won by two clear legs. He hit double 20 to go 3-2 up but O’Shea pinned double four to level up at 3-3 but Painter went on to get more match darts though but missed three and O’Shea had 141 to send it to a sudden death shootout. Only to miss treble 19 and Painter hit double two to claim it.

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