LEE Evans is hoping that he may be able to cause a stir or two at next month’s UK Open after handing the best player on the planet a run for his money last weekend.

Evans, who is based in Kempsford, near Cricklade, and plays across the Swindon area, including at the Saracens Head in Highworth, has qualified for the ‘FA Cup of darts’ - on March 4-6 - for the second successive year and kicks off his campaign with a second-round tie against Austrian youngster Rowby-John Rodriguez on the main stage at Butlin’s in Minehead.

But the 27-year-old enjoyed a moment to remember in the sixth qualifying tournament at the Robin Park Tennis Centre in Wigan on Sunday, beating Lee Palfreyman, Gerwyn Price, Chris Dobey and Robert Thornton to book a last-16 clash with world number one Michael van Gerwen.

Evans even led the Dutch superstar 3-0, forcing van Gerwen to pull off a stirring comeback to win 6-4.

“I played him van Gerwen in the qualifiers at the same stage last year and he beat me 6-2 but this time, I had him on the ropes a few times,” said the Swindon player.

“I could have made it 5-5 on the last leg but he checked out on 155, which you just don’t expect someone to do but that’s why he’s number one in the world – I think if I’d made it to 5-5, I think I might have beaten him.

“I always seem to play better against the top players and I did well on Sunday, beating a few good guys along the way.

“I was against van Gerwen but it’s a shame that I didn’t win because I finished 34th in the order of merit and if I’d been in the top 32, I would have gone straight through to the third round (of the UK Open).

“I’m going to be the underdog in every game but I’m playing better than last year and hopefully I can go there and do a bit of damage.”

Evans is set to be joined in Minehead by a clutch of other Swindon players, including veteran Dennis Smith, who takes on Alex Roy in the first round.

Mark Cox, who came through the Rileys amateur qualifiers, kicks off the action on the main stage on March 4 by locking horns with Wes Newton whilst Johnny Haines will be forced to overcome Gary Stone in a preliminary round match for the right to take on Jamie Caven.

THE SIXTH Abbey Meads Pub competition, which is the biggest independent darts event in Wiltshire, takes place on Sunday with a prize fund of £1125 on the line.

Mark Cox won last year’s title.