South Essex darts star Steve Maish is getting ready to invade the United States after winning the Budweiser UK Open in Scotland at the weekend.

The "Magic Man" cast a spell over more than 150 other players before beating Steve Parsons 2-0 in the final to walk off with a cheque for £4,000.

Maish, 41, also beat former world champion John Part 5-3 in the quarter finals, alongside victories over PDC stalwarts Alex Mackay, Mark Robinson and Tommy Nicolson.

In the semi-finals, Southend-based Maish averaged nearly 100 points per visit to the oche as he thrashed former world youth champion Michael Barnard 2-0.

Maish said: "This has been the best month of my career, without a doubt. This was my first major PDC tournament win and it was a ranking tournament as well, so that is absolutely brilliant."

Published Wednesday January 28, 2004

Brought to you by the Evening Echo