Gravesend’s Josh Payne is set to embark on the 2015 PDC pro darts tour this weekend in Wigan.

His first event will be the UK Open qualifiers, with the televised finals held next month in Minehead.

Payne won his pro tour card last November by finishing in the top two of the PDC youth tour order of merit.

During his first year of competition on the PDC pro tour Payne competed regularly against top professionals and successfully defeated Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor, the 16-times world champion.

He won the Kent nen’s super-league Singles at just 17, making him the youngest player to win the competition.

In June 2013 he was crowned ‘Bullmaster’ following a successful trip to La Rochelle, France, to compete  in ‘The World’ soft tip darts championship after hitting 35 consecutive bulls, nearly reaching the world record of 43 consecutive bulls.

Now he is set to compete regularly against the very best, including Adrian Lewis, Taylor, Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld.

Payne said: “I can’t wait to compete this year, I am well prepared and now have the experience.”

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