Pub begins search for the 'next Luke Littler' - could they be in the West Midlands?
Pubs across the West Midlands will be looking for the next Luke Littler as part of a community pub chain's darts competition.
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The pubs in the Black Country and Shropshire are among pubs owned by Proper Pubs, the community wet-led division of Admiral Taverns, who are hosting heats for the national darts competition.
The Boars Head in Oswestry, Watergate in Whitchurch, Ashmore Inn in Wolverhampton, Ashwood Inn in Stourbridge and White Swan in Warley will all hold heats, which are best-of-three legs, best-of-501 format and which will run throughout January and end on February 7.
Each week, two competitors will advance to the pub's final, with eight finalists in total, then a finals competition will take place in the week starting February 10 and see the winner and runner-up progress to the regional finals a week later, then the national finals in Manchester on March 2.
Proper Pubs said the competition, which will see the winner receive a prize of £1,000, could help to uncover another Luke Littler, following on from the 17-year-old's World Championship win at Alexandra Palace at the beginning of the month.
A spokesman for Proper Pubs said: "Community pubs across the West Midlands are on the lookout for the next Luke Littler, as part of a national darts competition.
"The event, hosted by Proper Pubs, the award-winning community wet-led division of Admiral Taverns which operates more than 200 pubs across England, Scotland and Wales, is set to uncover the best new talent in the world of darts.
"Sponsored by Fosters, the competition will follow a best-of-three legs, best-of-501 format.
"Pub heats began on Monday, January 6, and run until Friday, February 7 and each week, two competitors will advance to their pub’s final, with a total of eight finalists by the end of the heats.
"The pub finals will take place during the week of Monday, February 10, where the winner and runner-up for each pub will progress to the regional finals, scheduled for the week of Monday, February 17.
"Across the country, there will be nine regional finals, each culminating in four finalists advancing to the national showdown.
"The 36 finalists will compete in the National Final on Sunday, March 2, held at the Town Hall Tavern in Greater Manchester, with the winner receiving a prize of £1,000."
