REIGNING Champion Dave Place will be hoping to complete an historic hat-trick when the Blackburn Premier League Darts returns to the town's pubs next week.

Bigger and better than ever before, the third season kicks off at the Aqueduct on Wednesday August 1st from 8pm.

This year's "dirty dozen" will again battle it out for the coveted title of Best in Blackburn and almost £2,500 in prize money.

Two-time winner Dave Place (who is sponsored by the Manxman Hotel), will once again line up against his brother and last season's runner-up Darren Place (Havelock Inn), Graham Willets (Florence Hotel), who finished season two in third place, and fellow beaten semi-finalist Ian Lever (Furthergate WMC).

And last season's top four will be joined in the league by the eight pre-season qualifiers - Kyle Pickering (Ivy Hotel), Mick Ansbro (Dog Inn), Keith Lynch (Fox & Hounds), John Phillips (Clifton Arms), Mark Aspinall (Mill Hill Hotel), Jeff Baron (Aqueduct), Les Greaves (Hordens) and Fred Lamb (Cabin End).

Tournament organiser Brian Gouldthorpe said: "We anticipate that this year's competition will be the biggest and best yet!

"We have extended the league from eight to 12 competitors, we have extended the catchment area to include Blackburn, Darwen and now Knuzden, we also invited guys from out of town who have played in Blackburn leagues on a regular basis over the last five years to enter and there's more prize money up for grabs than ever before.

"The eight guys to come in have been through rigorous qualifying events, so they are at the top of their game at the present time and will throw the league wide open.

"I'm really pleased to see Fred Lamb in there. It will be good for people to see how well he can play, after he has done such a great job with the marking for us over the past two seasons. Matt Howard will now take up this role.

"I would also like to welcome Mark Aspinall, our first out-of-towner, to the league. He comes from Todmorden, but has been playing in Blackburn for the best part of the last seven years and I'm sure will have a point to prove."

Each darter will host one of the 12 weekly live events at their chosen sponsor venue, before the league's top four points scorers will progress to the semi-finals and then final, which will be held at the Manxman on Friday October 26.

Six matches, all best of 10 legs, will take place every Wednesday evening, with two £15 prizes, for the night's highest average and highest check-out, on offer each week.

The eventual winner will walk away with the coveted trophy and a cheque for an incredible £1000, whilst the runner-up will take home £300. Third place receives £150, fourth wins £100, fifth wins £90 and so on in descending £10 values.

A further £75 is also available for both the tournament's highest check-out and highest match average, whilst a new award - of £50 and the Sharon Murray Memorial Trophy - is on offer for the player with the most 180s throughout the league. Sharon, who sadly died earlier this year, was the wife of season one competitor Keith Murray, who did more for darts in Blackburn than anyone in the early years.

Savoy Carpets, of Bolton Road, have again agreed to sponsor the event, providing the winner of the original league phase with a cheque for £200.

Tomorrow night's curtain raiser at the popular Ewood pub sees Mark Aspinall face Dave Place, Graham Willets take on Darren Place, Fred Lamb play Ian Lever, Kyle Pickering challenge Mick Ansbro, Keith Lynch tackle John Phillips and Jeff Baron against Les Greaves.