DARTS ace Nick Kenny is confident of finally breaking his duck at the BDO World Championships – before trying to land a prized place on this year’s PDC tour.

The 26-year-old from Cwmbran goes into the British Darts Organisation’s flagship event in London after a 2019 that saw him win the Belgium Open, French Open and Bruges Open.

Despite suffering a broken foot, Kenny also helped Wales become WDF World Cup Team champions in October and rose to number one in the World Darts Federation rankings.

His World Championships campaign starts on Tuesday when the tournament’s sixth seed faces Dutchman Dennie Olde Kanter in the second round.

A trip north awaits Kenny after he throws his last dart in the capital, with the Professional Darts Corporation offering 128 tour cards between qualifying schools in Wigan and Germany.

Before that, Kenny must do what he hasn’t managed so far in his career and win a match at a world championships.

The Welshman fell at the first hurdle in 2017, losing on debut to eventual champion Glen Durrant, and then suffered a similar fate against Dutch thrower Willem Mandigers 12 months later.

“I’m seeded sixth this year and a lot of people think I can do well,” he said.

“My first aim is to win my first match and then go from there.

“No-one expected me to beat Glen, but I gave him a really good game, and then Willem had a couple of big checkouts and it got away from me.

“I’m confident of winning the first one this time and I’d like to think I’ll be too good for my opponent.

“My foot has been out of the boot since last Friday and I’ve been doing alright, so hopefully everything will be okay when I get up to London.”

It was announced last year that the championships, which start today, were moving to the indigo at The O2 after 33 years at the Lakeside Country Club in Surrey.

Poor ticket sales and reduced prize money has blighted the BDO’s preparations, while the success of the rival PDC event continues to show the gulf between the two governing bodies.

Kenny’s future could well lie with Barry Hearn’s PDC if all goes to plan from January 16-19.

“I’m going to try and get a tour card,” he added. “That’s where the money is.

“If things go well at the World Championships and qualifying school then there’s a chance of reducing my hours at work, going part-time or taking a career break.

“If you get a tour card then you’re guaranteed a load of Players Championship events, and sponsors will come on board because your profile is going to be so much bigger.

“It’s bigger money, more coverage and more publicity.”

Kenny is one of three Welsh players competing in London.

He is joined by second seed Jim Williams and fifth seed Wayne Warren.