The Arbroath and District Club player made his way into the competition's quarter-finals in Swansea on Tuesday evening after recording an 11-3, 2-11, 2-1 victory over Alex Marshall.

Now Darren has picked up the points he needed to earn a place in the world's top 16 rankings, which means guaranteed entry into next year's competitions.

He said: "It was a good win on Tuesday evening to beat the world number one and its even more of a bonus that I've made it into the top 16.

"This means I won't have to go through the qualifying rounds, which can be quite tough sometimes.

"I've been so close to getting into the top 16 for a few years now and even when I won an international open event about a year-and-a-half ago, it was so tight up there.

"But now I know going into the tournaments next year, I can just go there and compete without having to qualify."

Darren beat Canadian Hirendra Bhartu 11-3, 8-3 in the first round of the competition taking complete control in the second set to seal his victory.

Yesterday (Thursday) Darren was due to be in action against Jonathan Ross, in the quarter-finals.

He said he was expecting a tough match against the Irishman, who he has known for many years.

He added: "I've known Jonny for a while now and I know it will be a tough game to win.

"He has also just guaranteed his survival for the tour competition's next year after coming so close like me on so many occasions in the past.

"I'll be surprised if it isn't a really tight game and I know we both will be looking ahead thinking how we could be two games away from the final."