YORK’S Rich Corner has qualified for the final stages of the prestigious Winmau Masters at Hull City Hall.

Corner clinched his place in the ESPN-televised stages of the BDO competition with a victory in Blackpool’s Northern Area qualifier.

The Masters dates further back than darts’ World Championship with past winners including all-time greats Phil Taylor, Eric Bristow, Raymond van Barneveld and John Lowe.

Corner will now take his place in the 2011 field on Thursday, September 1 alongside the likes of current BDO world title holder Martin Adams and past champions Ted Hankey and John Walton.

“It’s my biggest achievement in darts and I’m over the moon,” said Corner, who also currently tops the Streamline Taxis York Open Darts Championship’s order of merit. “This is the best year I’ve ever played and a lot of people have been saying they’ve never seen me play so well.

“I’m looking to get as far as I can in the tournament, not get too nervous and prove I can play against these good players.”