LAST Saturday saw another epic turn out at the Andover Darts Open with more than 80 entries.

The Fuller’s Brewery sponsored competition was full of class players from all regions including Wiltshire, Dorset, Hampshire and Berkshire with big name players from the PDC circuit.

Andover’s Ben Simpson showed how much his game has improved over the last year after defeating the world’s number 60 Dennis Smith 4-3 in the first round with a nail biting leg decider.

Simpson’s run of play was never going to be easy with four of the top players in his own half of the draw and in the last 64 Simpson defeated Berkshire’s Dave Wootton 4-1.

In the last 32 Simpson played some of the best darts while defeating PDC’s Johnny Haines 4-2 and in the last 16 Gosport’s Johnny Wing to book his well deserved place in the quarter-finals.

Andover’s Darren Large also had a good day defeating the Academy’s Mattie Parson’s 4-0 and Dorset’s Colin Littlecott 4-1 before falling in the last 16 to the eventual winner Evans.

Andover’s Andy Deavall also had a good run beating Berkshire’s Paul Meecham 4-1 and Shane Harvey in the last 32 but lost to Dorset’s and PDC’s Ben Ward.

Lee Evans played superb darts all day and became a winner again in Andover collecting his sixth event crown in eight competitions.

Evans defeated Berkshire’s Darren Jones 4-1 and Kelvin Jones in the last 16. Evans beat Large 4-1 and then ended the run of form of Wiltshire’s Danny Short to book a semi-final place against Simpson.

Evans fought back to claim victory in that match 4-3 after Simpson missed vital doubles, and Evans then went on to beat Swindon’s Richie North in the final 6-2.

There was also a round robin Ladies event where Andover’s Charlotte Burgess was runner-up to Wiltshire’s Frances Elwick after a thrilling 3-2 defeat.