Big prize pot on offer at Tipton darts comp

Allans Sports & Social Club, in Newhall Street, will hosts the West Midlands Open Darts Tournament from 10am.

A huge field of more than 150 have signed up to the event and bosses are expecting a further hundred to do so before play gets under way at 12pm.

Club owner and director Bob Shaw said: "We have held darts competitions here before, but never one on this scale.

"Our sponsors have helped us with the prize fund and we have already had over 150 entries so far.

"We are expecting about 250 people to take part on the day and we are going to put a cap on entries at that number because, if we don't, we probably won't be able to finish it."

One big reason for the bumper turnout is the £2,500 first prize that will go to the winner.

The runner-up will take a cool £1,000 with further cash prizes extending all the way down to 10th place. Amounts have yet to be confirmed.

The competition will be run on a straight knockout format starting, with best of-five from 501, and is expected to attract a handful of top professionals among a largely amateur field.

Telford's two-time world champion Ted Hankey is among the big guns expected to take part, along with fellow pros Robbie Green and Jamie Hughes.

Shaw said: "Aside from the prize fund on offer, it will be a great chance for people to pit themselves against some top players."

The competition will be played across 17 boards, with four further practice boards also to be set up at the venue to help competitors fine-tune their skills before and in between matches.

Organisers are confident the tournament will be a big success hope that the event will become a yearly staple of the darts calendar in the future.

Shaw said: "We are hoping to make it an annual event with the competition taking place at the same time every year."

Entry will cost £8 in advance and £10 on the day. Registration will start at 10am. For further details call 0121 557 9223 or 07812 096 936.