DENNIS Smith is hoping to avoid the big boys for as long as possible as he prepares to get his UK Open campaign underway tomorrow in Minehead.

The 45-year-old, known as the gentleman of darts, is one of an elite group of 10 players who have made an appearance in every UK Open tournament since it began back in 2003.

The Swindon player nicknamed Smiffy, who is often found practising at the Fox and Hound pub in Haydon Wick, will be joined at this year’s tournament by fellow Swindon players Johnny Haines, Lee Evans and Mark Cox.

Adi Acott, who plays for Wiltshire County, will also be making an appearance after qualifying via the Riley qualifiers in Newport.

“I’m looking forward to getting the game,” said Smith who enters the tournament in the second round tomorrow and will face either Mark Barilli or Steve Hine.

“For me the main thing is qualifying so anything that happens at the tournament is a bonus and I am really looking forward to it.

“I don’t know Mark Barilli very much but I know Steve Hines, he has been around for a little while and is a very good darts player.

“I’ll just concentrate on my own thing. At the end of the day they have got to play me as well and the draw could have been a lot worse, so I am quite pleased with my draw and it is just a matter of going up there and getting on with it really.

“I believe I am one of the 10 players who has played in every tournament since it first started, which is a nice achievement to have.

“It is a very hard format because once you have played in the afternoon, and you win that one, you have got to play in the evening.

“It is not like you get a day off so it is a very tough format.

“It is just a matter of taking every game as it comes and having a nice draw and hopefully avoid the big boys until later on.”