KEVIN PAINTER defeated Colin Lloyd 2-0 to win the Budweiser UK Open North-East Regional Final in Newcastle.
The world number seven came from 2-1 down in the opening set of the final to take a 1-0 lead with a 101 finish.
He then made Lloyd pay for missed doubles in the opening two legs of the next set to move to within touching distance of victory.
While Lloyd hit back to finally land double top in the third leg, Painter sealed the win with double 18.
"I'm delighted," said Painter, who wins £4,000 and earned 20 ranking points.
"It's a good start to the year and the field today was superb.
"With the exception of Phil Taylor, this was almost the best eight players in the game and to come through that is very satisfying.
"Adrian has been playing well so it was great to beat him, and Denis was brilliant against Chris Mason in the quarters."
Painter had earlier dropped just one leg in a comprehensive win over Ovens in the semi-final, and ended Lewis' hopes in the last eight.
Lloyd overcame Alex Roy in a deciding set in the semis, and was a 5-2 winner against Andy Hamilton in the quarter-finals.
Roy reached the semis with a comfortable victory over James Wade, while Denis Ovens opened the day's play by defeating Chris Mason 5-2.
Click here for Day One Results & Round-Up
Budweiser UK Open North-East Regional Final
Quarter-Finals
Denis Ovens 5-2 Chris Mason
Kevin Painter 5-3 Adrian Lewis
Colin Lloyd 5-2 Andy Hamilton
Alex Roy 5-1 James Wade
Best of nine legs
Losers £500/10 ranking points
Semi-Finals
Kevin Painter 2-0 Denis Ovens
Colin Lloyd 2-1 Alex Roy
Best of three sets, five legs per set
Losers £1,000/12 ranking points
Final
Kevin Painter 2-0 Colin Lloyd
Best of three sets, five legs per set
Winner £4,000/20 ranking points
Runner-up £2,000/16 ranking points