Photo courtesy of Lawrence Lustig/PDC.

MARK WALSH defeated Kevin Painter 6-4 to win Group Four of Championship League Darts on Tuesday.

The Hertfordshire ace booked his place in the tournament’s Winners Group for a second successive year following a consistent day at Crondon Park GC in Essex.

Having finished top of the Group Three league table only to lose in the semi-finals last week, Walsh reversed that this time.

He ended the eight-player round-robin phase in fourth spot, but overcame unbeaten leader Terry Jenkins 6-3 in the semi-finals.

Walsh then came from 4-2 down to defeat Painter in the final by taking four successive legs.

Walsh led 2-1 only for Painter to hit a 128 checkout and level, double eight to break throw and then double four in the sixth leg – after hitting seven treble 20s in the leg – to open up a two-leg lead.

Walsh won the seventh and then took out 120 against the throw to level, before punishing a missed double 12 from Painter to move 5-4 up and then seal the win on tops.

“I’m over the moon,” said Walsh. “It was a good day all round and I’m really pleased to have got through to the Winners Group.

“I really enjoy the tournament and it’s a great challenge, but I can look forward to coming back in October now.”

Walsh won four of his seven league matches but had to defeat Colin Lloyd in his final game to book a semi-final spot, before coming through the play-offs.

Jenkins, making his debut in this year’s event, was unbeaten in the league phase following some fine displays to earn the maximum possible prize money of £2,100, but fell at the semi-final stage.

Adrian Lewis’ day included a whitewash win over Vincent van der Voort, but he finished third in the final table and then went down to Painter, who picked up five wins in his seven league games.

Van der Voort and Lloyd were both eliminated from the tournament in Group Four after collecting just one win apiece, while Colin Osborne and Denis Ovens progress to Group Five on Wednesday.

They join Jenkins, Painter and Lewis, who will be maintaining an unwanted ever-present record so far in this year’s tournament, while Peter Manley, Wayne Mardle and Mark Dudbridge come into the fray.

Championship League Darts Group Five will begin at 11am on Wednesday and is screened live worldwide via a series of bookmakers’ websites.

Group Matches
Terry Jenkins 6-4 Adrian Lewis
Vincent vd Voort 2-6 Denis Ovens
Mark Walsh 6-4 Kevin Painter
Colin Lloyd 2-6 Colin Osborne

Denis Ovens 3-6 Terry Jenkins
Kevin Painter 6-1 Colin Lloyd
Colin Osborne 4-6 Mark Walsh
Adrian Lewis 6-0 Vincent vd Voort

Denis Ovens 6-3 Colin Lloyd
Terry Jenkins 6-5 Kevin Painter
Colin Osborne 6-3 Vincent vd Voort
Adrian Lewis 6-3 Mark Walsh

Colin Lloyd 2-6 Terry Jenkins
Denis Ovens 4-6 Kevin Painter
Adrian Lewis 6-5 Colin Osborne
Vincent vd Voort 4-6 Mark Walsh

Vincent vd Voort 6-5 Colin Lloyd
Mark Walsh 5-6 Terry Jenkins
Kevin Painter 6-5 Adrian Lewis
Colin Osborne 6-4 Denis Ovens

Mark Walsh 5-6 Denis Ovens
Adrian Lewis 2-6 Colin Lloyd
Kevin Painter 6-1 Vincent vd Voort
Terry Jenkins 6-1 Colin Osborne

Vincent vd Voort 4-6 Terry Jenkins
Colin Lloyd 3-6 Mark Walsh
Colin Osborne 4-6 Kevin Painter
Denis Ovens 2-6 Adrian Lewis

Semi-Final 1
Terry Jenkins 3-6 Mark Walsh

Semi-Final 2
Kevin Painter 6-3 Adrian Lewis

Final
Mark Walsh 6-4 Kevin Painter