Prepare to be dazzled! Bobby's back.

Essex's Bobby George, Britain's most flamboyant and best-loved darts professional set out yesterday to capture the title he covets most - the Embassy World Professional Darts Championship.

After successfully making his way through six gruelling qualifying rounds, the 54-year-old is back on the stage he loves the best, in front of the TV cameras at the Lakeside Country Club, Frimley Green.

And this year, in addition to playing in the tournament, George will be working for the BBC giving expert match analysis alongside presenter John Inverdale.

Runner-up twice in 1980 and 1994, he began his latest assault on the title yesterday in a first round match against Stevenage's Denis Ovens who is ninth in the BDO world rankings - and won through.

All the other big names of the BDO are on show including reigning champion Dutchman Raymond Barneveld, Ronnie Baxter and Les Wallace.

Essex darts needs a boost after the failure of two leading players at the rival PDC World Championships, which have just finished at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet and saw Phil Taylor pick up a record eighth crown.

Both Chelmsford's Rod Harrington and Witham's Colin Lloyd fell to first round defeats - and now George will be looking to put the smile back on the face of local darts fans.

"It's about time I won this thing," he said, speaking from his 30-roomed mansion, George Hall in Ardleigh last week. "I should have won it in 1980 but Eric Bristow beat me.

"Then in 1994 I got to the final and I could hardly stand, let alone play darts, when I did my back."

The injury resulted in George having his spine held together with a metal rod and eight metal screws after an operation.

After encouragement from wife Marie, George decided to give the Embassy another go in this Millennium year.

And he has promised not to disappoint his legion of fans this time who are expecting the old George "razzle dazzle".

Razzle dazzle style - Bobby George.

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