A TALENTED darts player’s dream to go toe-to-toe with the world’s best remains alive.

Darren Beveridge is aiming to line up on the oche with some of the stars of the sport after narrowly missing out on a tour card to join the PDC Tour.

He said: “I don’t think there is a missing ingredient.

“The only thing, at the time, I was still working and trying to juggle family life, my job and social life.

“It was all getting too much but now I have given up my job and feel a lot more relaxed, confident and it is coming easier to me.

“I am playing a lot better and more confident when I am playing.”

Originally from Whitecraig, Beveridge stepped away from his job at Bruntons Aero Products in Musselburgh to concentrate on the sport.

East Lothian Courier: Darren Beveridge is aiming to keep progressing on the ocheDarren Beveridge is aiming to keep progressing on the oche

The coronavirus pandemic has impacted on Beveridge’s attempts to join the main tour.

He said: “I play on the Challenge Tour, which is just a step below the pro tour.

“Due to Covid, it has been split into two different tours – the UK and the European tour.

“I’ve been on the UK tour and finished fourth, which was not quite enough to get a tour card.”

Both the UK and European Orders of Merit for the Unicorn Challenge Tour staged a dozen events.

The person topping the table for each region after the 12 events then secured their spot on the tour, with Jim Williams and Matt Campbell making the move up.

Now, 29-year-old Beveridge turns his attention to the UK Qualifying School, which will be played in January. Tour cards are awarded depending on results on each of the four days.

Securing a tour card would open the door to facing stars such as world number one and reigning world champion Gerwyn Price, former world champion Peter Wright and three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen.

Beveridge, who now lives in Broxburn in West Lothian, described reaching the main tour as a dream.

He said: “It has been my ambition for the last few years.

“I have been taking darts seriously for the past seven years.

“It has been my ambition and I have missed out very minimally in the last couple of years.

“I will just take it on the chin and keep pushing.”

Beveridge, who is managed by Dunvegan Enterprises Darts and sponsored by Harrows, has been keeping busy during the pandemic.

He has been playing in the Modus Online Darts Live League, with prize money of up to £7,000.

It is a long way from when he first took up the sport.

He said: “I’ve been playing darts since I was about 13.

“I got into it because it was raining one day and I could not go out and play football. I went to a mate’s house and started playing darts.

“My dad, Clark, played darts for years and he was delighted when I asked if I could play. I’ve never put them down since.”