NICK Kenny gave his chances of a return to the Lakeside next year a big boost with a run to the semi-finals of the BDO World Trophy.

The Cwmbran darts ace made his world championship debut at the famous Surrey venue in January and is well placed to go back in 2018.

He picked up valuable ranking points in Barry last weekend, winning three matches before being knocked out by Wales team captain Martin Phillips.

The 14th seed’s World Trophy campaign began with a 6-4 victory over qualifier Martin C Atkins.

Kenny broke his opponent’s throw in the fourth leg and never looked back – if he had lost then the Welshman would have left the Memo Arts Centre with no points at all.

Canadian Jeff Smith, world championship runner-up in 2016, couldn’t live with Kenny in the next round.

Kenny played his best darts of the tournament during a 6-0 whitewash, a result that gave him a quarter-final clash with Scotland’s Ross Montgomery.

The 7-2 scoreline suggests Montgomery wasn’t in the game but Kenny knows his rival had chances to make the gap a lot closer.

Nevertheless, an all-Welsh semi saw Kenny face veteran Phillips for a place in the final against Aussie Peter Machin.

Kenny had lost to the North Walian in the Isle of Man earlier in the year, and Phillips got the better of him again.

The 57-year-old from Dolgellau triumphed 8-5 in the end but things could have been different had he not checked out on 141 in leg six.

Sadly for Phillips, and the home fans, there wasn’t a Welsh winner of the event, as Machin, runner-up to Darryl Fitton 12 months previously, edged the final 10-8.

Reflecting on his tournament, Kenny said: “I’m normally good with my scoring but I was really sharp on my doubles over the weekend.

“I’m eighth now in the rolling rankings and 22nd in the seasonal rankings which I’m well chuffed about.

“This time last year I was 46th in the rolling rankings and got to the Lakeside, so I’m in a much healthier position this season.

“My main focus is to push for the Lakeside and, although my performances in Barry weren’t the best, my results have really helped.”

Kenny’s next big event is the England Open in Selsey, West Sussex, on June 17-18.