By Gordon Sharrock

BOLTON could have a double top to celebrate when two of the town's finest go for glory in rival versions of darts' world championships.

Steve Coote has revenge in mind as he prepares to compete in the Embassy World Championships, which get under way at the Lakeside, Frimley Green on January 6.

By then, his friend, team-mate and fellow England international, Les Fitton could already have made his name on the oche in the PDC event at Purfleet.

Fitton, the Lancashire Champion, starts his bid for world glory on December 28 with a first round clash with Dennis Ovens of Hertfordshire. "I've beaten him in the past and hopefully I can beat him again," he says.

"But I'd rather be playing someone from the higher end of the world rankings. I play better against them. I was unlucky last year when I lost to Mervyn King, the world sumber three, in the Embassy. Since then I've switched to the PDC because I've been doing well in their tournaments."

Undisputed world number one Phil Taylor has also switched to the PDC, giving that version of the event a big shot in the arm. But the Embassy is still the more prestigious championship - and the event in which Coote is hoping to shine.

The fireman meets another England international, Wayne Mardell, in a tough opener but, having already beaten the Essex man at county level a couple of years ago, is confident of progressing to the last 16 in which he could meet Dutchman Co Stompe - the player he lost to in last year's second round.

"I'd expect to beat him this time," Coote says positively. "This time it won't be me coming home early."

Fitton, who plays with Coote for Moss Rose in the Kearsley and District League, had hoped for a Bolton trio bidding for world glory but Paul Williams failed to qualify this year.

"Paul was very unlucky," he says. "But, looking at the first round draws we've got, me and Steve haven't been all that fortunate. But we'll be giving it our best shot.

"We're competing in different versions of the world championships but we don't get involved in the politics of the sport. We just play."