CHRIS Thompson is bang on course to qualify for the PDC’s prestigious World Darts Championship after his Las Vegas heroics.

Acomb arrows ace Thompson defeated 15-time world champion Phil Taylor in the desert and now occupies the fifth of 16 qualifying places for the end-of-year Alexandra Palace extravaganza.

The St Paul’s player has never competed in the Sky Sports televised showcase event and admitted it remains “a big target”.

Making the field would also provide a huge fillip after the Hitman missed out on playing in this week’s World Matchplay Championship at Blackpool by just two qualifying places.

Qualification for the World Championships is open to the first 16 players in the Players’ Championship Order of Merit, who fall outside the PDC Order of Merit’s top 32.

World number 56 Thompson has racked up two semi-final appearances on the circuit this year – the latest following his titanic Taylor victory.

With 21 of the 37 Players Championship qualifiers having now been completed, it will take an unexpected slump in form to deny the Minsterman an appearance on darts’ biggest stage.

“Hopefully, the World Championships should be guaranteed now,” Thompson reasoned.

“The money I have already earned would have got me there last year and I just have to make sure that I don’t let my standards slip during the events that are coming up in Ireland, Crawley and Derby because to end the year at Ally Pally would be amazing.”

The Minster Law legal executive will be nailed on should he repeat the form that not only accounted for Taylor in Nevada, but also the Power’s fellow top-ten stars Terry Jenkins, Mark Walsh and Andy Hamilton, as well as former BDO world champion Jelle Klaasen.

He became one of six men to beat Taylor in 2010, joining an elite band that includes Walsh, Simon Whitlock, Steve Beaton, Paul Nicholson and Matt Clark.

Thompson trailed the game’s greatest-ever player 4-0 before fighting back to 4-4 with three 12 and one 13-dart legs.

The EcoFlooring-sponsored underdog then looked to have blown his chance of a famous victory when he missed six darts at a double before Taylor forged 5-4 ahead.

It certainly looked like curtains when Taylor was on a double in the tenth leg with Thompson back on 200 but a maximum from the Hitman applied the pressure on his legendary opponent, who failed to close the game out during his next visit to the oche, allowing the former UK Open quarter-finalist to take the match to a deciding leg after one throw at double ten.

Thompson then displayed terrific nerve to hold his throw, kicking off with a 140 and 180 as he checked out in 13 darts with Taylor left on 188.

About his greatest-ever triumph, Thompson admitted: “It felt mad and, when I went to shake his hand he congratulated me and said ‘that was brilliant darts’.

“Everyone was shaking my hand and then they rushed me on to play Simon Whitlock five minutes later. I only had time for a quick cigarette and a drink.

“I was 2-2 against him but then everything kind of hit me and Simon went on to win 6-2. It had been a long day and I had beaten a lot of big names.”

Thompson’s success also came at a price – it meant he rose to the dreaded number 32 in the seedings, putting him on a collision course with the top-ranked Taylor again in the following day’s Players Championship competition that would decide the World Matchplay line-up.

The pair did meet again and this time Taylor gained revenge with a 6-0 whitewash.

“After I beat Phil, I was asked if I wanted the good news or the bad news,” Thompson recalled. “I asked for the good news and was told I would be seeded for the next competition.

“I knew then that the bad news was I would be number 32 and set to play Phil again. It was gutting to miss out on the World Matchplay by two places but I knew the chances of beating him twice in two days were virtually impossible.

“I wasn’t resigned to my fate but I knew it would have taken a monumental effort.”