by Dave Fotheringham

FROM a star-studded line-up Martin Atkins won the £1,000 Unique Pub Company sponsored York Open darts competition held at Punch Bowl.

The Leeds-based Yorkshire 'A' team player took the top prize by beating York's John Mooring in an extremely exciting best of nine-leg final which went all the way.

Mooring recorded 17, 23, 17, 19 darts but faltered at a 15 dart double which would have given him the title.

Atkins, without hesitation, took the opportunity to close his 15 darts, adding to 19, 19, 17 and 13.

It was indeed a high quality tournament, brim full of all the ingredients.

There were ten on-stage 180's scored and bags of big finishes.

Atkins took out Paul Cooper (15, 20) to win one semi-final with 16, 21, 21, 16 while Mooring won through with 20, 130 finish for 18, 17 and 18 against Hull's Tony Richardson (17, 20, 15) after disposing of Humberside representative Pete Leake 3-0 with 17, 15 then 20 darts.

However, one of the many outstanding contests was Cooper against Chris Thompson.

The previous round, Thompson crushed the Leeds ace Dave Smith, now a Lancashire County member, with two 14s then 18 and certainly seemed set for further success.

Not so. Despite another fine 14 darter Cooper cut Thompson's challenge short with two 18's then a fantastic 15 darts, finalised by a crucial 146 finish.

That won Cooper the highest out-shot award and an 11 dart sizzler, achieved in a qualifying round, also collected the quickest game prize.