Rampant Robert Thornton retains World Seniors Championship crown
Robert Thornton successfully retained the World Seniors Championship title courtesy of a 5-2 win over Richie Howson in the final at The Circus Tavern.
The 55-year-old maintained his unbeaten record in the World Seniors show-piece as he stormed to glory in Purfleet, dropping only three sets in the process.
Thornton, who also claimed the World Seniors Matchplay title last year, followed up 3-0 victories over Roland Scholten and Scott Mitchell earlier in the week with a 3-1 success over Neil Duff in the Quarter-Finals on Sunday afternoon.
The Scot’s 98.72 average in defeating the current WDF World Champion marked the highest in the brief history of the event to date.
He then brushed aside Kevin Painter in straight sets in the Semi-Finals, before comfortably denying home favourite Howson in the final.
“It’s massive, it’s the very first TV tournament I’ve actually defended and won, so that makes it extra special,” said Thornton.
“It ranks at the very top [of achievements].
“To drop only three sets, I’m happy. It’s only going to get harder and I’ve just got to stay on top of my practice and stay where I am.
“It wasn’t a tough decision not to go to Q School, there’s less travelling than the seniors and to be honest, I love it, we can turn up and play darts, nobody judges you.”
Thornton settled the quicker of the pair into the final, clinching the first set 3-1 before adding the second in three consecutive legs to double his lead.
Howson produced a sublime 161 checkout in set three, but only for Thornton to finish 98 in the deciding leg and extend his advantage.
A rare miscount from Thornton gifted Howson a chance to claw back a set, which he duly grasped, but the defending champion hit back to take the fifth and move three clear once again.
Howson, winner of back-to-back qualifying events last month, produced a skin-saving 120 checkout on the way to sealing the sixth set, but Thornton ensured there was to be no fairy-tale fightback as he closed out the title in set seven.
Howson enjoyed a dream run to a first televised title on home soil in Essex, defeating David Cameron and Andy Jenkins in the opening two rounds before knocking out 16-time World Champion Phil Taylor with a 3-1 success in the Last Eight.
He then ended the debut run of North American champion Leonard Gates in the Semi-Finals with an 89.5 average, but was glory the £30,000 top prize by a ruthless Thornton.
The pair will clash again at the inaugural Champion of Champions in Blackpool on March 25.
World Seniors Darts Championship 2023 Day Four Results
Sunday February 12
Afternoon Session
Quarter-Finals
Richie Howson 3-1 Phil Taylor
Darryl Fitton 1-3 Leonard Gates
Mark Dudbridge 1-3 Kevin Painter
Robert Thornton 3-1 Neil Duff
Evening Session
Semi-Finals
Richie Howson 3-1 Leonard Gates
Kevin Painter 0-3 Robert Thornton
Final
Robert Thornton 5-2 Richie Howson
LATEST DARTS FREE BET OFFERS (18+ | T&Cs apply | Gamble Aware)
