TheOche.com

Lakeside Darts, SURREY (4 Jan) – Former world champ John Walton coasted to a 3-0 victory over Shaun Greatbatch but darts took a back seat as players and spectators acknowledged the bravery of the Suffolk sharpshooter.

The 39-year-old from Lakenheath was given a player’s "guard of honor" as he left the stage after his 24 minute class with John Boy.

There was hardly a dry eye in the Lakeside arena as gutsy Greatbatch, looking drained and emotional, left the stage to standing applause.

He has been waging a battle against myeloma – a cancer of the bone marrow – which has left him without any hair and exposed him to six months of painful chemotherapy.

He has also been forced to readjust his throwing style after the cancer left him four inches shorter and quite weak.

Walton had started confidently hitting double 12 to take the opening leg, taking the next against the throw but then suffering double trouble and needing seven darts to clinch the set after Greatbatch himself missed four finishing attempts.

There was a huge cheer as the Suffolk sharpshooter blasted in a maximum and then fired out on double eight in the opening leg of the second set.

He hit another maximum in the next leg but the Yorkshireman leveled and then hit a 180 in the third leg as he exited on double 18, clinching the set on double 10.

Greatbatch, visibly drained by the match, hit his third maximum in the opening leg of the third set but then just faltered as Walton clinched the set unchallenged and victory on double eight.

After the emotionally draining match Greatbatch said that he had suffered during the match.

"When I got up this morning I sat on my bed with a massive headache and no energy but I wanted to play. I thought to myself I have got to do it for myself and all the people who had come to watch me at Lakeside.

"I had no energy during the game and if I had won the set would not have been able to win the match, there was just no energy," declared Greatbatch.

Walton, wiping away tears admitted: "That is the hardest game I have played and I don’t ever want to go through it again.

"We are all one big family in darts and this was going to affect everyone in the Lakeside arena and I am not afraid to admit I was filling up on stage," said Walton.