YORK darts ace Chris Thompson is aiming tonight to pin down a place in the final of a £100,000 competition on the back of almost beating the player ranked second in the world.

Thompson, who was pipped 3-2 by Peter Manley in the last 64 of the British Open Championship in Liverpool last weekend, is now targeting glory in the Paddy Power World Grand Prix Championship, one of the most prestigious events in the darts calendar.

He is one of a dozen competing in the North East final at the Fountain public house in South Shields. The winner will go through to the grand final in Dublin next month.

Thompson, who is sponsored by his employers Corries Solicitors, of York, is playing as an individual in this championship but each week he turns out for Britannia in the Unique Pub Company York League and the Sun Inn, Acomb, in York John Smith's League.

No stranger to top flight darts, in 1997 Thompson reached the last eight of the Sky televised News of the World Championship. He was Yorkshire Classic champion last year and is a regular in the Yorkshire team, which he captained two years ago.

He won two qualifying rounds, at Ainsty and then Guisborough, to reach the Paddy Power Grand Prix regional final.

Among the dozen playing in South Shields for a trip to Dublin is Graeme Stoddart, of Newcastle, ranked 32 in the world. The winners of the eight regional finals will take their place alongside the top 24 Professional Darts Council ranked players in the grand final in Dublin from October 22-24, to be shown live on Sky Sports, and with a prize of over £100,000 at stake.

The regional stages have been organised jointly by the PDC, John Barras pubs and title-sponsor Paddy Power, Ireland's biggest bookmaker.

Updated: 11:46 Wednesday, September 26, 2001