English · Billericay, Essex, England · Born 12 July 1967Kevin Painter, nicknamed "The Artist," is an English former darts player best known for his epic 2004 PDC World Championship final loss to Phil Taylor.
Kevin Painter reached the 2004 PDC World Championship final and pushed Phil Taylor, then in the middle of his most dominant period, to a deciding leg before losing -- a final still regarded as one of the closest Taylor came to being beaten during his years of near-total control over the sport. Nicknamed "The Artist" for a smooth, fluid throwing action, Painter spent years being described as one of the best players never to have won a major title, a label that finally expired in 2011 when he won the Players Championship Finals, beating Mark Webster in the final to claim the one significant trophy that had eluded him. His best win, by his own account, wasn't a final at all: a last-16 victory over Raymond van Barneveld at the 2008 World Championship, which he's called the biggest of his career even though the tournament run itself ended in the semi-finals -- a reminder that a player's own sense of a career-defining moment doesn't always match the result that made the headlines.
Reaching the 2004 PDC World Championship final
His 2004 PDC World Championship final against Phil Taylor — which went to a seventh, deciding set — is considered by many analysts to be the greatest darts match ever played.
Did You Know?How They Played
Steady, methodical approach with strong finishing ability
Lasting Impact
Respected PDC tour professional who achieved consistent success over two decades
Career Honours
- PDC World Championship runner-up (2004)
- Players Championship Finals winner (2011)