Kevin Painter’s long wait for another PDC title goes on, but it was still a case of ‘job done’ for the Unicorn darts star in Ontario.
He lost the final of the Canadian Masters 6-2 to Ronnie Baxter, but the £3,000 runners-up cheque will be enough for Painter to secure his spot at the next TV ‘Major’ – the World Grand Prix in Dublin at the beginning of October.
So in many ways, the gamble of going to Canada has paid off handsomely for ‘The Artist’ who will now qualify for the WGP through the Players Championship Order of Merit.
Ultimately though, having reached the final, it was a big disappointment for Painter…..he lost five of the first six legs and there was no coming back from that in what was his first final for almost a year.
His best performance of the day at the Hilton in London, Ontario was in the quarter-finals, when he came from behind to beat Simon Whitlock in a deciding leg…..Painter then saw off Co Stompe in the semi-finals.
Stompe and Michael van Gerwen boosted their chances of Dublin qualification with runs to the last four at the Canadian Masters.
Elsewhere, Paul Nicholson’s disappointing Canadian weekend was completed with another shock setback, as he lost 6-2 to unknown Jeff Smith in the 2nd Round.
Colin Osborne was also beaten in round two, losing by the same score to Mareno Michels.
Team Unicorn ace Wes Newton had to settle for a place in the last 32. After reaching Saturday’s final in Canada, he went down 6-5 to Van Gerwen in the 3rd Round.
Jamie Caven lost in the 3rd Round – beaten 6-2 by Canadian Norm Tremblay, who went onto the quarter-finals.
Andy Hamilton got through to the last 16 and was involved in a terrific struggle with Whitlock, before being edged out 6-4.
But for Painter, money in the bank and more importantly, his place at the City West in Dublin secured!
Results – Quarter Finals:
Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Justin Pipe
Kevin Painter 6-5 Simon Whitlock
Co Stompe 6-5 John Part
Ronnie Baxter 6-1 Norm Tremblay
Losers - £1,000
Semi-Finals:
Kevin Painter 6-3 Co Stompe
Ronnie Baxter 6-4 Michael van Gerwen
Losers - £2,000
Final:
Ronnie Baxter 6-2 Kevin Painter
Winner - £6,000
Runner-up - £3,000
By STUART PYKE
Photo courtesy Lawrence Lustig / PDC