Dennis Defeated by Kevin Painter
Keving Painter 3-1 Dennis Priestley (1-3, 3-2, 3-0, 3-0)
Kevin Painterbattled from a set down to defeat Dennis Priestley 3-1 and move into the quarter-finals of the Skybet World Grand Prix. Painter looked set to crash out of the event when Priestley took the first set and led 2-1 in the second - only to miss a stack of darts for a two-set lead.
Painter hit back and took the set, before winning the next six legs without reply to set up a quarter-final with Andy Hamilton on Friday.
Priestley took advantage of a sluggish start from Painter to win the opening leg against the throw and then the second leg with his tenth dart at a winning double. The duo traded 180s in the third, before Painter hit the bullseye to get off the mark, but Priestley won the next on double eight to take the set.
Double top put Priestley ahead in the second set, but he missed the same bed to move 2-0 up as double 16 from Painter levelled.
A brilliant 125 finish from Priestley - of bullseye, outer bull and bullseye - put him 2-1 ahead, only for his finishing to desert him in the next leg.
Both players missed a host of doubles to win the leg, with Priestley wasting eight darts for the set before Painter hit double one.
Painter then hit a 180 in the deciding leg, before double 16 saw him square the match.
Painter won the third set's opener with an 85 finish, despite a 180 from Priestley, who kicked off the second leg with a 160 start.
However, Painter produced a maximum of his own and double 16 for a 13-darter to break through, before scores of 180 and 140 helped him wrap up the set without reply.
Painter landed a 180 for a third successive leg in the fourth set's opener, which Priestley opened with another 160 only to miss three darts for the closing double.
That allowed Painter in to land double eight, before double 16 put him 2-0 up, and another maximum helped him set up a double top finish for victory.
"It wasn't a very good display and I'm just relieved to be through," said ainter. "I felt good going on stage but couldn't find it for the first half of the game.
"Dennis should have been 2-0 up and running away with it. The second set was comedy darts and Dennis should have won that - but once I won it I didn't look back."
