PLAYERS have stepped up to oche for a new darts league in Weymouth.

Twenty competitors are going head-to-head over a 21-week period battling it out against one another to be crowned the first Assassin’s Darts Corporation (ADC) Singles League champion.

The winner will be crowned on a finals night where the top seven players at the end of the season will lock horns to see who comes out on top.

The first week saw some very entertaining games in the Weymouth Angling Club-sponsored competition, with three of the games finishing in 3-3 draws.

Nine 180s were hit in total with Andrew McDermott, Arnie Quinn, Chris Stone and Adam Mckay hitting two each.

The other came from Paul Dormer who also took the highest shot out of the night with a 126.

Quinn took the first 1,001 shoot-out of the season, taking 1,001 points out in 37 darts.

Organisers of this new league, Paul Paice, Andrew McDermott and Danny Aplin can only see positives to come out of this new format.

Aplin said: “For years, all players have played a team format style of on a Monday night, mainly playing in the highly talented Money League which consists of county and Superleague players.

“It’s been talked about for a while now about changing the format and trying new formats out so we feel making it as a singles one, it’s only going to improve the quality of players we have playing already.

“This league is just what certain players need to be able to take their game up a notch or too and compete regularly at Superleague and possibly on to county. Playing this standard week in week out is only going to help that.”

Weymouth Angling Club is hosting the event every Monday night, starting at 8pm.

Aplin added: “ We couldn’t think of a better venue or host in Billy Short for the first season of this league to take place.

“Billy does massive amounts for us and never expects anything in return.

“We would like to thank all of our sponsors who have helped fund the new league in Paul Paice Blinds and Beds, Aplins Garden Services, Expert Catering Appliances, Marlboro Fish and Chips, Bassett Lights and Shades Centre, Bassett Darts Supplies and Weymouth Angling Club.

“Also thanks to Arnie Quinn for setting up all the boards and chalk boards.”

Anyone who would like to sponsor the new league can contact one of the organisers via Facebook or email Dannyaplin@hotmail.co.uk for further details.