VINCENT VAN DER VOORT'S run in the Blue Square UK Open has won him a place in the PartyPoker.net Grand Slam of Darts and also moved him into the world's top 50.
The Dutchman reached the first major final of his career last weekend, where he lost 16-8 to fellow countryman Raymond van Barneveld in the Bolton decider.
His wins over John Kuczynski, Alex Roy, Richie Burnett, Terry Jenkins and Colin Osborne earned van der Voort £15,000 - moving him into the top 50 of the PDC Order of Merit for the first time since he moved onto the PDC circuit in January.
He also earned an invitation to compete in November's Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton, and van der Voort is now looking to continue his progress in the two Players Championships this weekend at Hayling Island.
"I switched to the PDC in January and it has been hard," he admits. "In the BDO I was sixth in the world and here I started at 300 and have to climb up the ladder.
"The PDC has so many great players, it's unbelievable, so I was fortunate to be in the final. I've been playing well since I joined the PDC and it suits me very well.
"I'm in the Grand Slam of Darts now, which is great for me, and I want to qualify for the World Championship too.
"You want to play against the best in the world and I can in those two tournaments.
"For the World Championship it's tough because the ranking is over two years and there are so many good players already in the top 32.
"I've made a big step now but Hayling Island is very important for me to try and qualify for the World Matchplay.
"That's important and hopefully I can carry on up the rankings from there."
Van der Voort's run in Bolton included two 11-10 wins in the quarter-final and semi-final, against Jenkins and Osborne, as he showed his battling spirit in coming from behind.
"It was hard work because I didn't play that well but I was fighting all the way and I came through to the final," he added.
"You have the days when you aren't at your best and you have to make the best of it. I did and I'm pleased with that.
"In the final, Raymond was finishing so well and it could have been closer than 16-8 if it wasn't for that.
"But that's what makes the difference between a brilliant player and a good player."
Van der Voort is part of the same 'MasterDarts' stable as compatriots Michael van Gerwen, Jelle Klaasen and Toon Greebe - all young players tipped to have huge futures in the sport.
"We are really close, we travel together and speak to each other about everything and are very good friends," said the 31-year-old.
"My second place in the UK Open is their victory as well because we are a team.
"Everybody expects Michael and Jelle to do well so for me there is no pressure - only that people said I'm not going to make it and that Michael and Jelle are.
"They have so much talent and they have proved that they are magnificent players.
"That takes the pressure off me, of course, because everybody expects them to win all the tournaments, and I am just playing and doing my best."
The MasterDarts team were treated to a tour of Bolton Wanderers' Reebok Stadium during the Blue Square UK Open, including a visit to the dressing rooms, a close-up look of the pitch and a look on the television gantry (pictures courtesy Henk Westerdaal, Darts4You magazine).