COUNTY Durham darts star Dave Prins is hoping to claim the biggest victory of his career at the BDO World Darts Championship this afternoon just 12 months after almost turning his back on the sport.

Prins, nicknamed 'The Badger', takes on Richie George, son of former world finalist and BBC commentator Bobby, on the Lakeside stage at around 4.30pm.

Last year, a first-round defeat left Prins questioning his darting future, and only a heart-to-heart with his wife, Clare, convinced him to carry on playing.

Since then, the 44-year-old has enjoyed a successful season that culminated in a victory at the Hungarian Open, and with the BDO version of the World Darts Championship generally more unpredictable than its equivalent organised by the PDC, anything could be possible over the next two weeks.

“I'm feeling confident,” said Prins, who was born in Easington and now lives in Peterlee. “I believe I can win it. Why not? I've beaten everybody there in the past, so it's all about on the day.

“Last year I was going to pack it all in after losing in the last 32. I thought I’d had enough, but Clare got me to continue and now I can’t wait. I love the limelight. This is what it’s all about.

“I’ve lost at this stage for the last three years and Richie is a good, young kid, but I’ll be buzzing if I beat him and I think I’ll go far.”

A professional for the past five years, Prins has spent long hours at the oche in his local pubs, the Argus Butterfly and the Horden Comrades, in preparation for this year's World Championships.

The former warehouseman feels he has unfinished business at the Lakeside, and admits the lucrative first-prize purse is as much of an incentive to succeed as the prestige of the winners' trophy.

“I’ve been practising very hard for this, playing up to five hours a day over the last couple of weeks,” said Prins, who is sponsored by Ramsdens. “Trying to make a living from darts isn’t easy, but there’s a hundred grand prize fund for the Lakeside winner, so it’s a chance to completely change my life.”