Hampshire’s interest in the Lakeside World Darts Championships ended on Thursday evening when Robbie Green defeated Tony Eccles, writes Clive Downton.

Included in Green’s 5-2 victory was a 164 finish in the fifth set.

That game shot meant the 161 earlier in the week from Basingstoke’s Paul Hogan was not enough for him to have a say in the best finish stakes, which pays out £5,000 for the highest shot.

Hogan lost out to Scott Mitchell, from Bransgore in the New Forest, earlier in the week in a final-set thriller.

‘Crocodile Dundee’ Hogan had beaten Karel Sedlacek of the Czech Republic in a preliminary game.

Mitchell then went out to James Wilson in the second round while Sam Head, 20, from Southsea, lost his first match to 58-year-old New Zealander Mike Day.

The final of the famous tournament at Frimley Green, Surrey will take place tomorrow night.

But darts fans will not have to wait as long as usual for another televised BDO event.

A new ‘BDO World Trophy’ will be broadcast live from Blackpool Tower from February 4-9 and is being sponsored by the Daily Mirror.

BDO chairperson Sue Williams said: “This is wonderful news. As a board of directors we have worked very hard over the last two years to bring in new business partners to enhance the game for our players. “This additional tournament to the calendar is the start of a new chapter for the BDO.”

Mitchell is included in the line-up, which also boasts the likes of Stephen Bunting, Scott Waites, Jan Dekker, Martin Adams, Tony O’Shea and a couple of wild cards – rumoured to be Andy Fordham and Ritchie George. Other places will be taken from a qualifying contest at the venue that week.