Scott Mitchell’s debut campaign at the World Seniors Darts Championship came to an end on Saturday night when he suffered a straight sets defeat to the Reigning Champion in Robert Thornton.
Mitchell, the 2015 BDO World Champion, who won his opening round match on Friday night in straight sets, put up a good battle against his Scottish opposition.
But he was outdone in the key moments by ‘The Thorn’, who emerged the victor by three sets to nil.
It was a pulsating tie from the start with both players showing signs of the form that made them household names during their respective primes.
Mitchell, who threw first, led 2-1 in the first set.
But after levelling, Thornton, the former UK Open Champion put in an impressive 15 dart leg to steal the set from under tyhe nose of ‘Scotty Dog’.
The tale was similar for Mitchel in the Second Set.
Once again, it was a case of the Dorset player did very little wrong but Thornton won the key moments.
In a similar situation to set one, Mitchell got his nose in front, this time via a break of throw and a 116 checkout.
Thornton, however, was showing the resilience that saw him win the maiden title last year, to gain a two set advantage and go within one set of a Quarter Final berth.
The highlight of the third set for Mitchell was another ton plus checkout, this time 120.
However, ‘Scotty Dog’ just could not blunt the ‘The Thorn’, who averaged six points more over the course of the match.
That figure of 90 saw Thornton win in straight sets.
Mitchell returns to his farm in Bransgore with encouraging signs from his two matches at the Circus Tavern.
He has plenty of PDC, Modus Super Series, and potential WDF action lying ahead in 2023.
He will be eager to build on his work in Purfleet to make the year a successful one.
Ryan Segal @theryansegal
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