Darts star Tony Eccles is ready to go for it big time! The Stockton man, currently ranked 12th in the world by the British Darts Organisation, is about to stake his claim for the top, writes Paul Fraser.

Eccles, pictured right, has a busy period ahead and he is hopeful of coming out of it with flying colours.

He has already qualified for the Embassy World Championships in January and he will be competing in the World Darts Trophy in Utrecht, Holland, early next month.

But first Eccles will be bidding for glory in the Embassy Gold Cup at Frimley Green next weekend.

The 32-year-old is confident of success in London but he is desperate to impress in Utrecht, where around £130,000 is up for grabs.

"I always go into every tournament thinking I can win," said Eccles, who will be one of the Englishmen competing against players from nine other countries.

"I will be taking on Andy Smith from Warwickshire on September 9 and I think I can go all the way. I've also got to play in the Winmau World Masters in Bridlington before the end of the year."

And it will be then that Eccles, who plays for The Globe in the Hartlepool Darts League, will be switching his attentions to the Embassy World Championships in January.

The landscape gardener, who has scooped every honour on the local scene, made his first appearance in the tournament earlier this year.

But he admits he should have done better and he would like to make a name for himself at the Lakeside Country Club, in Frimley Green, this time.

"I didn't do that well but what it did was make me hungry," he said. "Straight after the disappointment in the Embassy I followed it up with reaching the finals of the German and Scottish Opens.

"I've had a good year and hopefully I can build on that over the next five months."

But it has not all been easy for Eccles, who finds it difficult to keep up the long trips to venues at both home and abroad.

He added: "It's hard because I've never had any sponsorship and the only backing I get is from my club and my girlfriend Claire (Stainsby).

"It's hard and I have nearly packed it all in before because it is hard. But I love the game and I want to achieve all I can in it."

* Anyone who would like to discuss a sponsorship deal with Eccles can contact Claire on 07779 346355. The darts star is also available to do exhibitions for cheap rates.