WARRINGTON darter Garath Illidge is aiming to compete against the world’s best in 2017, with qualification for the PDC UK Open his next target.

The 41-year-old, who lives in Penketh, is aiming to qualify for a televised event for the first time in his career.

He will be in action at a qualifying event for the UK Open in Wigan this weekend, but will have some of the world’s top players for company.

“My ambition is to play against the best in the world and compete,” he said.

“I’ve never yet qualified for a TV event. I went for a 2017 PDC tour card and was unsuccessful but I was hindered with illness.

“I’ll be up against the world’s best, including Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson, Adrian Lewis, James Wade and Peter Wright.”

Should he be successful in getting through the qualifying stages, the UK Open finals are held in Minehead on March 3-5.

Illidge has also taken part in qualifying for the PDC World Championships and has regularly competed on the second-tier Challenge Tour.

New Zealand-born Illidge, who uses the nickname “The Kiwi”, has lived in Warrington for 12 years after moving from St Helens, where he was a teacher at Cowley International College until 2013.

He resigned to become a full-time carer for daughter Kayla, who has severe autism, but told of how a birthday present for his son Dylan reignited his interest in darts.

“I played darts in St Helens and, when I was 16, I got to the final of an open competition organised by the Turks Head pub,” he said.

“I did nothing after that until I bought my son Dylan a dartboard for his birthday three years ago.

“I had a go and thought ‘I’m still quite good at this!’ Illidge, whose British parents emigrated back to the country from New Zealand when he was very young, is also vice captain of the Warrington Albion darts team, who play in the Merseyside Super League and are based at the Albion pub on Battersby Lane.