KEVIN PAINTER admitted a mid-game lapse cost him the chance to defeat Phil Taylor in the Stan James World Matchplay on Wednesday.
Painter lost 13-6 to the eight-time Winter Gardens champion in the second round of this year's event, his latest loss to Taylor in major tournaments.
Painter did lead 2-1 early on, and had a chance to break Taylor's throw in the second leg before the Stoke man took nine straight legs to set up his win.
"I started well and had a shot to go 2-0 up, but it wasn't a good dart," said Painter. "It was the middle session that killed me, to be honest.
"I fell asleep half-way through the game but I rallied towards the end and it was a respectable average and I hit a nice 170 finish.
"Phil has been struggling a little bit of late but that's probably the best he's played for six months.
"It's disappointing for me because he always seems to pull something out of the bag against me - his finishing was lethal."
Painter has been knocked out of the last three major tournaments by the world's top three players - Taylor, Raymond van Barneveld and Colin Lloyd.
"It would be nice to avoid them but I'm playing well," he added.
"Last year, although I didn't get any results I played okay but was walking into some really good performances and my game wasn't quite what I needed.
"This year, I'm playing very well and need a little bit of a break.
"I want someone to go up there and miss a couple of doubles against me, people seem to go out with one dart all the time. If I get a break, I feel I can do some damage.
"I need to get out of the group of 16th and 15th place to avoid Taylor and Barneveld in the last 16 - and I think I'm playing well enough to do it."
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