By Martin Morgan

Last updated at 13:14, Thursday, 11 September 2008

World championship semi-finalist Brian ‘Pecker’ Woods is aiming for a shot at a six-figure bounty in the elite £350,000 Grand Slam of Darts – thanks to his new-look darts.

Disappointment: There is still no place in the England team for ex-Cumbrian player Brian ‘Pecker’ Woods

The Cumbrian is hoping his fresh arrows will give him the edge as he takes on the likes of defending champ Phil Taylor for the £100,000 top prize.

Woods secured an invitation to the televised tournament in Wolverhampton in November after reaching the last-four at the BDO world championship at Lakeside in January.

“Three months ago I couldn’t hit a barn door,” said Woods. “Now I’m scoring. I’m on the board five or six hours a day and playing really well. “I’m using the same darts but the barrels have been lengthened and it has taken me three months to get used to them.

“I’m ranked 16th in the world this year and I’m playing well enough to win the Grand Slam. I just need to take my chances when they come along.

“I’ve just missed a nine-darter in practice, wiring the double 12.”

The Grand Slam involves 32 of the world’s top players from rival organisations, the BDO and PDC.

World champs John Part, of the PDC, and the BDO’s Mark Webster will feature in the nine-day tournament, shown live on ITV Sport.

Woods, who recently moved from Egremont to Aberdeen, went down 6-3 to Simon Whitlock in his Lakeside semi-final after failing to get past the first round in his previous two visits.

First published at 11:54, Thursday, 11 September 2008
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk