Red Dragon Darts Chris Thompson wins the National CIU trophy

ACOMB arrows ace and Red Dragon Darts sponsored Chris Thompson has emulated world champions Andy Fordham and Ted Hankey by winning the National CIU Darts Individual Championship.

The victory also represents a unique double for York’s Crescent WMC who, captained by Thompson, clinched the National CIU team title earlier this year.

Thompson emerged triumphant from around 400 players who entered the 2009 competition, beating previous winner Arthur Dobey 4-2 in the final at Chesterfield.

York’s "Hitman" surged into an early lead before Dobey, from the White Horse Unique Social Club, in Ashington, stormed back with a ten-dart leg to level matters.

Thompson then won the next two but Dobey reduced the deficit before the 2008 UK Open quarter-finalist kicked the sixth leg off with his fourth 180 of the day and secured the prestigious trophy in 15 darts.

The Minster Law legal executive had earlier defeated Bedlington’s Davy Wright in the semi-finals 4-1 after 15, 14 and 11-dart legs and overcome Wayne Clegg, from Nelson, 3-2 in the last eight.

Thompson, who also reached the quarter-finals of the PDC’s Nuland Players’ Championship in Holland last month, is now concentrating on his "outside chance" of reaching the World Championships at Alexandra Palace.

He has taken a break from the PDC circuit, which stopped off in Scotland this weekend, to rest a shoulder injury before returning for the German Players’ Championship in Halle at the end of the month.

"I’ll need a couple of big results in Germany to make the World Championships," Thompson added. "But I’m playing really well.

"I was 5-3 up against Wes Newton in Holland and missed a double to get into the semi-finals so, even though it looks like an outside chance, I’ll be giving it my best shot."