Darts ace Dan Timmins aiming to clean up at Blue Square Open
SCARBOROUGH^S darts ace Dan Timmins is getting the practice in ahead of next month^s Blue Square Open in Preston.
Timmins has been drawn against fellow qualifier Andy Callary in the first round, with journeyman John Ferrell awaiting him at the next hurdle.
A move past both players could earn the 27-year-old Westover ace a £1,000 payday and a chance to challenge the game^s big boys.
This is the main aim for Timmins, but the chance to play in the competition will be bonus enough for the Scarborough dustman.
He said: "The first round game will be a 50-50 one really because we are both qualifiers. The next one may be a problem because he has been around for a few years.
"It could have been much worse though. The likes of former world champion Dennis Priestley are in the first round as well, so that would have been a little more difficult.
"I^m just hoping for the best though. It would be nice to get through a couple of rounds as the top 32 in the world come in then, you could play against people like Phil Taylor.
"I played him a couple of months ago in and friendly and didn^t do too bad. When he finished the leg I was on 91, which is good when you are playing him.
"I^m just going to get the practice in. I^ll be setting up a dartboard in the back yard so i can get a bit of the sun at the same time."
The whole tournament is being broadcast live on Sky Sports, which will be a new experience for Dan. But he has also been practicing on the cameras to ease his nerves.
He added: "Sky have been round to film me in my job and while I have been practicing, which was a new experience.
"I^m hoping that because they did that, I might be televised live in a match or two. It will be a bit nerve-wracking, but the other players will have to contend with it as well."
A move past both players could earn the 27-year-old Westover ace a £1,000 payday and a chance to challenge the game^s big boys.
This is the main aim for Timmins, but the chance to play in the competition will be bonus enough for the Scarborough dustman.
He said: "The first round game will be a 50-50 one really because we are both qualifiers. The next one may be a problem because he has been around for a few years.
"It could have been much worse though. The likes of former world champion Dennis Priestley are in the first round as well, so that would have been a little more difficult.
"I^m just hoping for the best though. It would be nice to get through a couple of rounds as the top 32 in the world come in then, you could play against people like Phil Taylor.
"I played him a couple of months ago in and friendly and didn^t do too bad. When he finished the leg I was on 91, which is good when you are playing him.
"I^m just going to get the practice in. I^ll be setting up a dartboard in the back yard so i can get a bit of the sun at the same time."
The whole tournament is being broadcast live on Sky Sports, which will be a new experience for Dan. But he has also been practicing on the cameras to ease his nerves.
He added: "Sky have been round to film me in my job and while I have been practicing, which was a new experience.
"I^m hoping that because they did that, I might be televised live in a match or two. It will be a bit nerve-wracking, but the other players will have to contend with it as well."
Story By: Scarborough Evening News