Darts hotshot Peter Evison is one of the late entries who will be trying to net themselves the £1,000 winner's purse in the Hampshire Darts Open.

The former Embassy regular is now seen on Sky TV with the Professional Darts Corporation but he is going to be in for some tough competition at Southampton's Novotel this Saturday.

Former World Master and two times Embassy semi-finalist Colin Monk is also in the line-up along with Hampshire's current England internationals James Wade and Paul Hogan.

The Hampshire Open has again proved popular on the darts calendar and a record 420 pub, club, super league and professional players will be toeing the oche to try and claim the trophy that was won by Hogan last year and Ronnie Baxter and Paul Carter before that.

The event is being staged by the Hampshire Darts Organisation and spokesman Frank Branscombe reckons competition will be tough once more.

"The great thing about the Hampshire Open is that anyone can take part in it - and they do.

"People who play for a darts team in a local league enjoy being able to toe the oche with people who they see play on television.

"The chances are they are going to be beaten by the big guys but even the pub players can get quite a way in this competition if they are drawn against each other in the early rounds.

"This is what it is all about - taking part and then watching some class darts as the day goes on.

"Just about all of Hampshire's best county players have entered and each and every one of them is capable of winning it."

Evison won the competition when it was staged at the city's Eastpoint Centre in 1991 with victory over Peter Manley.