Oxfordshire's Dennis Smith goes for glory in the Ladbrokes.com World Championship at Alexandra Palace tomorrow night.
The 42-year-old, from Hung-erford, who has played a major role in Oxfordshire’s rise to the top flight of British darts in recent years, faces Australian world No 5 Simon Whitlock in the first round.
Smith, ranked 50, has figured in the tournament since 1995, when he went out 4-0 to John Lowe.
His finest achievement was reaching the semi-finals in 2000 when he defeated Cliff Lazarenko, John Part and Lowe before going out 5-0 to Phil Taylor.
Last year, he lost 3-0 to Andy Hamilton in the first round.
Whitlock is something of a cult figure in the sport, with his long beard and ponytail.
Also aged 42, ‘The Wizard’ was runner-up to Mark Webster in the 2008 BDO Championship at Lakeside, and he was also the beaten finalist in the 2010 PDC Championship, going down 7-3 to Taylor.
He hasn’t competed since October when he broke a bone in his ankle, which required surgery.
Smith is a best-priced 4-1 shot with Whitlock as short as 1-6.
LAST NIGHT’S RESULTS
1st round: A Hamilton 3, A Alcinas 2; P Laursen 3, P Korte 4; M King 3, G Kime 0; K Painter 3, A Monk 1.
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