BEATING reigning world champion Adrian Lewis means Whitwell-on-the-Hill’s Terry Temple will fear nobody at the UK Open, which starts tonight.

Temple defeated Lewis – the 2011 and 2012 winner at Alexandra Palace – 6-5 in a UK Open qualifier at Barnsley in March on his way to a quarter-final spot.

That last-eight effort represented the furthest Temple has progressed in a PDC tournament but he also includes Premier League favourite Kevin Painter, former BDO world champion Jelle Klaasen and top-ten player Terry Jenkins among his past scalps.

Currently 73rd in the world rankings, Temple will begin his UK Open challenge at Bolton’s Reebok Stadium with a preliminary round match against Matt Clark, seven places behind him in the PDC Order of Merit.

Overcome Clark and he will meet unranked qualifier Mark Kelly in the next round with the winner of that match likely to meet baker, world number 59 and 2007 UK Open quarter-finalist Steve Hine, known as the ‘Muffin Man’.

Should Temple negotiate his way through that game, he would then take his place in tomorrow’s third round, when the likes of Lewis, the legendary Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld all enter the competition.

On his chances in Bolton, the North Yorkshire hopeful said: “I can’t wait. The draw was made three weeks ago so it’s been a big build-up and I just want to get on with it.

“Even though Matt’s a good player, I will beat him if I am playing my game. Then, it’s somebody who’s pretty much unknown. Win that and it’s likely to be Steve Hine, although I’m hearing he might be up against a tricky qualifier.

“Steve’s a good player but I’ve beaten him a couple of times and, if I get to the third round, I’m not really bothered who I play. It’s the best of 17 legs then and I don’t mind that because I’m the type of player who can come back from two or three legs down.

“I won’t be daunted by anybody I have to play. I’ve beaten a lot of good players since I’ve been on the PDC circuit.”

Lewis remains top of that list of conquests and Temple admitted that result three months ago provided a vindication of the belief he has always had in his own ability.

World number two Lewis was shocked when his 50-year-old opponent took out two ton-plus finishes to complete a 6-5 win and, recalling the game, Temple said: “I was 3-0 up and missed three doubles to go 4-0 up.

“He then took 106 out to make it 3-3 with two 11-dart legs but I was still on his tail playing well. I went 4-3 up and then 5-4 down but finished with two 12-darts legs, checking out on 124 and 108.

“I played him again recently and lost 5-1 but it could have been 5-3. I missed a couple of doubles and still threw a 96 average but he had 105.

“It’s unbelievable what a win like that can do for your confidence. I know that, if I can beat him, I have got the game to beat anybody.

“I’ve always felt that way anyway but it’s just about playing that way all the time. I wish I was 25 again because, the older you get, it’s harder to keep playing back-to-back matches but I’m getting there.

“I got to the quarter-finals when I beat Aidy although I’m still disappointed that I did not beat Dean Winstanley in the next round. It was 2-2 and I lost 6-2 but it wasn’t a good game and it wouldn’t have taken much winning.”

Temple also knows he cannot afford a slow start against Clark with his UK Open debut last year ending almost before it began when he went down 4-0 to world number 28 Co Stompe.

“You have to be on your game straight away,” Temple admitted. “Last year I wasn’t and, after ten minutes, the tournament was all over for me.”

Temple will be flying the flag alone for North Yorkshire at Bolton too with Acomb’s Chris Thompson and Martyn Turner, from Rawcliffe, failing to qualify after being regulars in recent years.

“It does seem strange that they won’t be there and I’m very disappointed they didn’t get through,” Temple added. “But I will travel there with another Yorkshireman Darren Johnson and we will practice together.

“I’m working on trying to up my scoring because my finishing has not been too bad. I want to keep hitting those 140s at Bolton.”

Temple is currently concentrating full-time on darts with no job outside of the game and is looking to make a number of breakthroughs in the sport over the next 18 months.

“Even if I don’t get in the top 64 this year, I will give it another go on the circuit and take it from there,” he said. “I would like to think I could make it into the top 32.

“I quite often reach that stage in competitions and some of the players up there are dropping down the order of merit. I am also hoping to get into the World Championships this year but might need to play in a few tournaments in Europe to do that.”