ST HELENS will have a remarkable five qualifiers taking part in the finals of next month’s Coral UK Open at the Butlins Minehead Resort.

They are led by Michael Smith, whose storming start to the year continued at the weekend with a stunning win in the fifth qualifier at Wigan.

The 24-year-old saw off stiff competition throughout the day before beating a similarly impressive Adrian Lewis 6-5 in the final at Robin Park to claim a fourth PDC career title.

After receiving a first round bye, Smith comfortably saw off Stephen Carrett and Kevin Thomas to win his board before beating Mark Webster, who had continued his good form on the day, 6-2 in the last 32.

A second successive 6-2 win followed against an improved Simon Whitlock in the last 16, before Smith made hard work of Vincent van der Voort in the quarter finals. Having led 5-0, he let the Dutchman bring the game back to 5-4 before stopping the rot by taking out 67 to book a place in the semi finals.

Smith made light work of Daryl Gurney, running out a comfortable 6-2 victor to reach the final.

He will be joined by practice partner Eddie Dootson, who secured a PDC Tour Card at Qualifying School in January, after he took some high-profile scalps to reach his first PDC semi final.

Those two are joined by on-song Dave Chisnall with the trio’s ranking position from the six qualifying rounds propelling them directly into the third round.

Stephen Bunting who has been hit and miss in the qualifiers, joins in round two while the familiar face of former top 10 world ranked Alan Tabern starts in round one after securing a qualification.

The ambitious Smith has set his stall out for this major televised tournament as he seeks to up his ranking with the aim of securing a Premier League spot.

He said: “I’d love to win this tournament, but I have set myself a target of quarter finals for every tournament I enter this year so that I can fly up the rankings.

The £300,000 tournament, televised live on ITV4, features stars from the PDC circuit alongside amateur qualifiers in an event which sees play being held on eight stages simultaneously in the early rounds.

Professional players have competed in six UK Open qualifiers, each worth £50,000 in prize money, across two weekends in February with the leading 96 players, plus ties, qualifying to compete in the televised finals.

The competition starts on Friday week, March 6.