BOLTON'S top three darts players are aiming to be top of the world.

Steve Coote, Paul Williams and Les Fitton will line up with the sport's top throwers next month in the Embassy World Championships at the Lakeside,

And cheering them on will be the regulars from the Greyhound on Deansgate, Bolton and Farnworth's Ye Olde Three Crowns.

All three players are regular throwers for the Three Crowns in Farnworth while Steve and Paul turn out for the Greyhound and even though they have won championships around Europe, they never fail to turn up for local games.

"We wouldn't miss it," said Steve this week. "The competition within the leagues is as good as you could get anywhere and it certainly keeps us on our toes."

Steve, a fireman in Manchester, earned his credentials for the Embassy by winning last season's German championships while Paul, an engineer with Bolton firm William Hare, is the Finnish champion.

Les is a regular player for England and won the Lancashire Open in 1998 and as well as playing for the Three Crowns also competes in the Rochdale League.

But the Embassy is the one they all went to win.

Paul has played in the last few championships but it is the first time that Steve and Les have figured in the prestigous event.

Yet that does not unnerve them.

Steve said: "I'm going there to win. If I didn't think I had a chance then I might as well not bother turning up.

"We might not be favourites in other people's eyes but we reckon we can do alright."

They are certainly not short of form as they have each picked up good wins in the last few weeks.

In particular, Paul competed in the Swedish pairs championships along with Dutch player Raymond Barnavelb while Steve recently won the Yorkshire Classic.

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