Last week one lucky Croydon resident stepped up to the oche to play against darts legend Phil “The Power” Taylor.

David Lock, 29, won our competition to play against The Power who was opening a darts zone in Rileys snooker club on Purley Way.

It was the fulfilment of a lifelong dream for the darts fan who was about to go pro representing Surrey before his wrist was broken in a motorbike accident when he was 18.

Despite his broken dream, Mr Lock continued to play the game he learned to love when he was just six years old.

He said The Power was not the first professional player he had taken on.

“I played against Keith Denner in my youth, I took one leg off him.”

He said despite the fact his darts idol is Eric Bristow, he has always wanted to play against Phil Taylor.

“The thing about Phil Taylor is that he is the champion, he is the man.

“He does not just throw the darts, he puts them into the board. I guess that comes with experience.”

Mr Lock plays darts any chance he gets and a lot of his friends came down to watch him play against The Power.

He confessed: “I was really nervous and all my mates came down to watch.

“We played two legs and he won them both. My highest score was 125.

“Phil is a brilliant guy. He likes to have a laugh and a joke, that is what this sport is all about.”

The 14-time world champion, agreed to play against Mr Lock and test out the new playing area, which is fitted out with championship quality boards and hi-tech electronic scoring.

Mr Taylor said: “The sport of darts is on the up and up as more people start playing almost every week.

“It will do wonders for the game to have a top operator like Rileys bring their expertise to the development of our game across the country.

“There will be real benefits for players at all levels.”

Rileys are introducing the darts zones at a number of their 130 clubs nationwide.