Mark Walsh flew into 2-0 lead after breaking Painter in leg 2 and had 3 darts at 20 to go 3-0 and was averaging 105. Painter broke back to make it 2-1 to Walshie with a 76 finish. A clinical 2 dart checkout in the 4th leg on 76 immediately broke back for Walshie and he went 3-1 up. Walshie was looking very calm and averaging 101 at this stage.

Walshie took leg 5 too, to go 4-1 up at the break and at this stage looked in complete control.

A 14 darter by the Artist made it 4-2 to Walshie, as Painter threw his best darts of the match and took out 68 in 2 darts. Painter declined a dart to go 4-3 but Walshie could only wire the double and the Artist made no mistake next time to reduce the deficit to 4-3 and get back "on serve". Painter had improved his checkout percentage to 75% with his 3rd double from 4 attempts.

A superb 112 finish levelled things at 4-4 and Painter turned and struck a posturing pose at the audience who loved the finish as the doubles percentage for the Artist went up to 80. Painter had played great darts to bring the match back to level with Walshie still averaging in the 90s.Painter then took the game to Walshie and broke again to go 5-4 up and that made it 4 legs on the spin for the Essex man. Walshie was having none of it and immediately comfortably broke back to send them in at 5-5 at the second break in an absorbing match at the Winter Gardens.

Painter broke with a Double 19 in the 11th leg to go 6-5 up after walsh had missed a bullseye to win the leg. Leg 12 went to the Artist too as he went 7-5 up. a 180 from Painter left 28 and walsh missed a dart at a double for 106, painter stepped up to break again and go 8-5 up. Another missed bull in leg 14 on a 161 by Walshie, let the Artist in who missed double top. Walshie broke back to make it 8-6.

A 180 by Walsh kicked off the 15th leg but was followed by only 60 whereas Painter hit 100 and then his own maximum to hit back. Another missed bull on a 161 by Walsh didnt cost him as he checked out on 49 to go just 1 behind at 8-7. 3 140s by Painter paved the way for a sizzling 11 darter to go 9-7 up. Walshie kicked off leg 19 with another 180 (3 each so far) and he closed the leg out in 14 darts to go one behind again at 9-8.

Painter then took out a good finish and appauded himself and breathed a sigh of relief to go 10-8 up.  Painer missed his dart at Tops and Walshie cooly took out 46 in 2 darts to go one behind again at 10-9.

Walshie failed to take an opening in leg 20 hitting only 40 when on 180 and Painter went 11-9 up with a 2 dart 76 finish. Painter punched the air to his Family in the crowd as he went 2 legs clear and just 2 legs from victory at the 4th break. A great finish of 68 by Walsh made it 11-10 with Painter sitting on a 2 darter. Walshie kicked on in leg 22 and left 68 with painter on 124 on his lead off. Walshies big chance was spurned after a treble 20 he put 2 darts on the wire of double 4 And Painter hit tops and bounced off to the front of the stage to celebrate with his supporters and go 12-10 up 1 leg away.

A 177 by Painter was followed by a 180 by Walsh in leg 23 that showed sheer guts and Walshie checked out first dart and gestured as if to say why couldnt i have hit the double 4 in the last leg, the score was now 12-11 to Painter. A nervy leg by Painter saw walshie go up by 100 against the throw and leave 103. Painter on 207 smashed in a 137 to leave 70, Walshie left 56 and Painter on 70 missed 2 darts for the match. Walshie  moved in and  missed another 2 darts at a double to break back. Painter missed 3 darts at double 2 and threw his arms in the air as the drama kicked in both players had a chat and a smile and Walshie missed 3 darts at 20. Painter missed 3 darts at 4 and put his head in his hands. and Walshie finally took his chance and levelled at 12-12 in a match of high drame and threw his arms to the crowd. Both players were having a good laugh as they prepared for overtime.

A 140 from Walsh then saw both players score 20 odds before Painter got back in with a 140. 2 further low scores from Walsh saw Painter leave 40, Walshie left 48 but he got his chance as Painter missed 3 darts at tops to break. Walshie wired tops and Painter broke to go 13-12 up.

85 and 55 from Painter were short of what he would have wanted and 100 and 134 from Walsh got him in control. Walshie left 167 with Painter on 121,  Walshie missed bull for a 167 leaving 32. Painter missed a bull for a 121 and with it 9 darts to win the match had gone begging. Walshie missed 3 darts at 32 and Painter finished on the 3rd dart to win the match and move into the last 8.

A close match where Walshie will reflect on missed doubles costing him but he played well and had his chances.