Former world champion Keith Deller is unafraid to admit that winning the Betfred.com League of Legends is uppermost in his thoughts.

Deller, 48, from Suffolk, does not subscribe to the ‘one match at a time’ mentality adopted by so many sports stars and is already looking ahead to finals night of this inaugural seniors’ tournament on August 22.

Two wins in his first three matches have put ‘The Milky Bar Kid’ well on course to reach the last four, yet he is still a potentially generous 6/1 with the sponsors to lift the trophy at the Circus Tavern, Purfleet next month.

A place on finals night will be all but secured if Deller can beat his old friend and rival Eric Bristow – the man he conquered to capture the 1983 world title – in Batley on Friday. But Deller is looking further ahead, although he knows his form will have to improve.

“I’m pleased to have two wins out of three on the board and Eric is next on my hit list,” said ‘Del Boy’, third in the table behind Dave Whitcombe and Bob Anderson who clash in Batley. 

“In my opinion Eric and John Lowe are the two best darts players ever. I beat John in Birmingham last time out and now I’m turning my attention to Eric.

“I’m playing pretty well at the moment but I will get better. Scoring-wise I’m not bad but my doubles are letting me down.

“I’ve not really got going yet in the tournament but when I do start motoring I know I can go on to win it. At the moment it’s all about qualifying for the last four but I’m not just thinking about that. I want to win it, though I can’t do that the way I’m playing at the moment.”

While the Deller-Bristow contest will be one highlight at the West Yorkshire venue as the Betfred.com League of Legends reaches the halfway stage, the other mouthwatering match-up is between Whitcombe and Anderson.

Whitcombe has been the surprise package of the event having won all three of his games so far, while Anderson, the pre-tournament favourite, is now odds-on as a result of back-to-back 7-2 victories following an initial draw.

Bobby George, who got off the mark with a win in Birmingham last time out, faces ‘Big’ Cliff Lazarenko and the other battle pits Peter Evison against John Lowe, who is still seeking his first win of the competition.

Betfred.com League of Legends schedule (all matches to be screened live on Setanta Sports)

May 30 – Circus Tavern, Purfleet, Essex

June 20 – King George Hall, Blackburn

June 27 – Hilton Metropole Hotel, Birmingham

July 18 – Batley Frontier Variety Club, West Yorkshire

August 1 – Rivermead Leisure Complex, Reading

August 8 – The Spa, Bridlington

August 15 – Town Hall, Stoke-on-Trent

August 22 – Circus Tavern, Purfleet, Essex (semi-finals and final)

For further information on the Betfred.com League of Legends and how to purchase tickets for the events, please visit www.leagueoflegends.tv