Former PDC World Championship finalist Kevin Painter makes a swift return to the Live Lounge – and a long-overdue appearance on MODUS Super Series duty. The Artist was recently part of the star-studded World Seniors Champion of Champions line-up, but this time he’ll be sticking around Portsmouth a little longer.
Painter joins the group stage and is set to feature on Thursday and Friday.
But things nearly took a very different turn for the Essex thrower. Dartitis – the dreaded, mysterious curse of the game – came close to ending his glittering career altogether as he explains:
“I was at a Challenge Tour event last year and I just couldn’t let go of the dart. So I spoke to Peter Manley, who was there with the PDPA, and he mentioned a new hypnotherapy treatment. He asked if I’d like to be a bit of a guinea pig – so I said yes.
“After eight sessions with a guy named Chris at Eccleston Park Hypnotherapy, it was miles better. Not perfect – but good enough to keep playing.”
For a darts player unable to release the dart, it’s a worst-case scenario. A dart doesn’t count unless it leaves your hand and lands in the board – and for Painter, they weren’t leaving at all. That wasn’t just bad for averages – it was bad for business.
“It was worrying. I’d never experienced anything like it. You read about it, you see it affect others, but you never expect it to happen to you. I had to pull out of Seniors events, missed two or three MODUS tournaments, and refused exhibitions. It just wasn’t worth it.”
He’s not entirely out of the woods – but he’s no longer deep in the forest. Weekly Zoom sessions with therapist Chris have made a huge difference.
“Every week we have a 45-minute chat. Thankfully, it’s nowhere near what it was. Chris has helped a few other dart players too, and after a couple of months, it really started to ease off.
“I’m a quick rhythm player. I still pause occasionally, but not nearly as much – and it’s improving. I’m keeping my head up, still winning local Vault comps, still doing exhibitions. Fingers crossed it keeps moving forward.
“I’d rather it hit me now than when I was at the top. That would’ve been even harder.”
It’s a fair point. If you’re going to get dartitis – getting it post-tour card is probably the lesser evil. Not that the condition offers you much say in the matter. But as Painter reflects, it could’ve struck at a much worse time.
A former PDC major winner – his 2011 Players Championship Finals triumph still fondly remembered – Painter’s name continues to carry weight. Exhibitions will always be there. And now that his throw is back in working order, he’s more than happy to get them in the diary.
“I do miss the big-time darts – playing at the top level. But the Seniors has given me a chance to get back on a proper stage. They’ve done a great job with it.”
And so, Kevin Painter – the man with the shiniest shoes on the circuit – has his sights firmly set on polishing up his A-game next. If The Artist can do that, he might just brush the rest aside.
——ENDS—–
Images: PDC
