Painter Perfect

Daventry darts player Kevin Painter says winning the Players' Championship has been the perfect preparation for next week's World Darts Championship.

'The Artist' won his first major title by beating Mark Webster 13-9 in Doncaster, having come from 9-6 down to beat Scott Rand 10-9 in the semi-final.
"When you go in and play that well, it couldn't have worked out any better,"
"I played really well on the Sunday and I'm confident for next week."
Painter had just a 20-minute break between the semi and the final but, against Webster, he produced nine 180s and three ton-plus finishes.
"Mark had an hour and 20 minutes' break but, after the semi-final, he might have wanted to get back on the stage immediately - it can work for or against you."
The 44-year-old, who climbs to ninth in the Order of Merit, now moves on to the Professional Darts Corporation World Darts Championship, in which he was the runner-up to Phil Taylor in 2004.
Painter faces Arron Monk in the first round of the PDC at the Alexandra Palace next Monday (19 December).