Darts ace Painter makes a splash in Chichester

The second season of the Perfect 10 Dart League ended with a memorable presentation night starring PDC star Kevin ‘The Artist’ Painter, invited to play against the top players from the league and some of the audience.
MC Chris Skinner, Kevin Painter and league co-organiser Ben marleyMC Chris Skinner, Kevin Painter and league co-organiser Ben marley
MC Chris Skinner, Kevin Painter and league co-organiser Ben marley

Painter was involved in one of the greatest matches ever seen on TV at the 2004 World Championship final against Phil Taylor. At six set all and 5-5 in legs, Painter lost a last-leg decider.

A crowd of 120 came to Chichester Snooker Club to see the Daventry star take on some of the best players in the league and were not disappointed.

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Painter worked the crowd well from the start inviting people from the audience to come and practice with him on the stage board.

Chris Skinner of the Darts Performance Centre was in top form as he started to introduce the players from the league who were playing.

Painter showed what life is like on the PDC by working his way through victories over a number of the league players – Geoff Bennett, Darren Whiting, Simon Wood, Garry Pay, Lee Clark and Justin Gratwick all fell short despite some great darts and score.

League division-two winner Danny Pinhorne has qualified for the UK Open five times as an amateur and finished tenth at the PDC Challenge tour in 2014.

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He showed why he is one of the best players in the area by taking the leg without Painter having a shot at a double.

Division-one winner Gary Blackwood is one of the best players in Sussex and really gave Painter something to think about, but having just dropped his first leg of the evening Painter wasn’t about to make it two in a row and took the leg.

Next Painter took on members of the audience. Tony Hardham was able to record a victory after Painter failed to check out using three doubles. Arguably the youngest person there was seven-year-old Ollie, who was fortunate enough to play Painter through the raffle draw.

With all the crowd behind him and Painter putting on his best exhibition moves, he gave the youngster a few chances which he duly took to record the third and final win of the evening.

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League organisers Mike Rooke and Ben Marley thanked the players for another cracking season, and Skinner and Painter for a fantastic presentation evening.

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