Champagne bricklayer's got his sights set on hitting bullseye

Fans will sink more than 500,000 pints of beer during this year's world darts championship, which begins today, but on stage it's Champagne's time to sparkle.

- by Peter Smith

That's the nickname of 20-year-old Yorkshireman Charlie Manby who will toe the oche at Alexander Palace, in north London, for the first time when faces 26th seed Cameron Menzies on Monday afternoon.

Manby, who lives in the Wakefield area, is one of the sport's rising stars. Ranked 166 by the PDC (Professional Darts Corporation), he qualified for his first shot at world glory through a fourth-placed finish on the organisation's Development Tour.

His 130 average during one match this year is a record for any PDC event.

"All the hard work paid off and I've had results go my way this year," Manby said. "It's exciting times, really. As a darts player, when you get to a certain level it's everyone's dream to get up on that stage and play a game.

"I am privileged to be able to go there and give it a go."

Opening opponent Menzies has twice reached the quarterfinals of major PDC events and Manby noted: "Cameron is a good player on his day, but at the same time, so am I. If I play my game I know I'll give him a good go.