LOCAL darts ace Jamie Lewis made virtually certain of competing in next month’s PDC Coral UK Open by reaching the semi-final of one of three qualifiers in Wigan at the weekend.
A total of six qualifiers are held, each one offering prize money of £60,000 – a semi-final place in the second qualifier on Saturday and with it £2,500 in prize money will almost certainly guarantee 24-year-old Lewis a place in the finals.
On his way to the semi-final Lewis, who recently moved from his hometown of Cardigan to live in Carmarthen with partner Kylie Murphy, who competes on the ladies circuit, beat Chris Dobey, Tony Newell, Steve Beaton, Matt Clark and Kyle Anderson.
At the penultimate stage the Welshman was pitted against 43-year-old Alan Norris of Bo’ness in the Central Lowlands of Scotland who was a World Championship debut quarter-finalist last month and recently named the PDC Best Newcomer of the Year.
In a thrilling contest it was Norris who prevailed in a last-leg decider before losing in the final against Dutch star and World number one Michael van Gerwen - the other winners in Wigan were Adrian Lewis and Phil Taylor.
The next three qualifier events are being held in Wigan from Friday, February 19 to Sunday, February 21.
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