A FORMER pub player from Catford has secured a potentially life changing place on the prestigious Professional Darts Championship (PDC) tour.

Paul ‘Moo Moo’ Amos now has the opportunity to earn up to £6m in prize money after winning an official PDC tour card, which is only handed to the top 120 professional players in the world.

The 37-year-old married father of two, who is a self-employed carpet fitter, secured his place on the professional stage after finishing fifth on the order of merit at the PDC qualifying school in Wigan.

The Catford ace even has a celebrity following with Eastenders actor Jamie Borthwick, who plays Jay Mitchell in the BBC soap, cheering him on during the qualifying school.

Only 25 players from more than 300 of the world’s top throwers secured a tour card.

Amos had received a place at the professional-entry event after winning the inaugural

Redtooth Darts challenge, beating off competition from thousands of players from hundreds of pubs across the country.

His journey through Redtooth Darts began when he topped his pub league at the Bellingham Ex-Serviceman’s and Social Club.

He then won the south east regional final at London Victoria Rileys and was crowned national winner at the Alexandra Palace during the world championships in December.

Amos said: “Being called a professional darts player still sounds strange, I don’t think it has sunk in yet.

“When I started the Redtooth Darts competition in September I never dreamt to get this far, it’s been an amazing experience.

“Playing professionally is what I’ve wanted to do ever since I started darts at 14.

“Anyone who takes it seriously wants to do as well as they can and play at the highest standard.

“I’ve now got an opportunity to do that.

“When you are playing on the professional stage, you find out how good a player you are.

“I always think the better players you play against the better a player you become.

“The support from Redtooth has been fantastic.

“Their financial assistance and backing has really helped.

“They have provided me with an amazing opportunity.”

Amos’ wife Lyndsey, daughter Brooke, 11, and son Harvey, eight, have supported him during his journey, but his feet remain firmly on the ground and will continue working as a carpet fitter.

He added: “The kids love it, they keep asking if I’m going to be famous now.

“I still have bills to pay, so I’ll continue working as a carpet fitter.

“I’m self employed and my dad manages the carpet store where I work, so I’m quite lucky and can manage my working days around training and competitions.

“If things take off hopefully I can afford to spend more time on darts, we’ll have to see what happens.”

Chris Clegg, managing director of Protégé Events, the company partnering Redtooth Darts in running the competition, said: “I’m overjoyed for Paul.

“He’s a very exciting prospect and I have no doubt that he will cause a few upsets on the professional stage.

“Paul is averaging some very high scores at the moment and playing fantastically.”

Redtooth Darts remains open for pubs to enter throughout the year.

For more information, visit redtoothdarts.com, follow @redtoothdarts on Twitter or call 01246 813713.

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