David Pallett closes in on World Championship

The Shropshire darter remains 55th in the Order of Merit, with just two ranking events left to complete before the cut-off for the biggest tournament on the calendar.

The rising thrower added another £500 to his tally from the weekend's Players Championship events, stablising his position and keeping him ticking over.

The 24-year-old's entry should be confirmed over the penultimate weekend of November, with a £3,950 cushion to defend in the top 64 of the standings.

He's feeling the benefit of more time to devote to the sport, after going part-time as a finance assistant with Telford & Wrekin Council three months ago to pursue his darting dreams.

Pallett just missed the boat for Alexandra Palace in London last year but is determined to make the cut now, which will also mark the first time he has played on Sky Sports.

He said: "It would take a hell of a turn of events not to make the World Championship now, I don't want to curse it but I would say that I am almost there.

"I have got about a month to wait until the last two Players Championship events and I am happy with how things are going.

"I have been trying to qualify for the worlds over the last couple of years, I just missed out last time so it was always my aim. I have done pretty well.

"It's a decent whack of £8,000 just to get there and I could get any of the top 32 as they are seeded, but I wouldn't mind playing the people who I have already beat."

Pallett added another scalp in the first round of Saturday's tournament, held at the K2 Centre in Crawley, with a 6-5 last leg victory over World Championship finalist Andy Hamilton.

He then defeated Kyle Anderson 6-3, before former BDO World champion Steve Beaton exacted his revenge for a Players Championship loss in Dublin, Ireland, earlier this month.

A high-quality contest saw both competitors' average rise to three figures, finishing in the nineties before Beaton went through with a 148 finish.

Pallett's average was again in the nineties on Sunday at the same venue but it was no avail as he fell at the first hurdle, 6-5 against Royston Lam.