ROBERT THORNTON continues his challenge to qualify for next month's World Matchplay when he competes in the Players Championship double-header in Birmingham this weekend.
The Scottish star claimed his first major PDC title on Sunday when he defeated Phil Taylor in the final of the Speedy Services UK Open.
Thornton secured a £40,000 first prize, the highest of his career, and jumped from 34th in the PDC Order of Merit to 23rd.
However, he is still looking to secure his place in the World Matchplay in Blackpool in the remaining PDC ProTour events as he prepares for four Players Championship events and the third European Tour event in the next four weeks.
"I'll be doing my best to get in the World Matchplay, and if it happens for me then it will be great," said Thornton.
"I'm not going to put myself under too much pressure, and if I play the way I played in Bolton this weekend I'll be happy enough."
Thornton had been a fixture in the world's top 16, but began to slip down the PDC Order of Merit after breaking his hand before then suffering a bout of pneumonia which disrupted the second half of 2011.
But after claiming the UK Open title and returning to the top 32, he added: "I hope it's the start of good things.
"I was 13th before and I want to get back there and go higher - I want to keep going.
"I think I'm playing better darts than when I won the World Masters, so I think I can get back up there.
"The standard now is unbelievable and you can hit all the big scores you want, but if you don't hit those doubles you get nothing. I hit them last weekend and want to keep that going now."