The Daily Echo Hampshire Darts Open is back for the 16th year.

Players will battle for the £1,000 winner’s purse at Southampton’s Novotel on Sunday, June 14.

The competition was launched in 2000 and quickly became one of the biggest and best one-day opens in the country.

And organisers have overcome hurdles to make sure that pub, club and super league players can mix it with the best county and professional players on the oche once more.

Joint organiser Frank Branscombe said: “It is with grateful thanks to the continuing support of the Daily Echo and the Southampton Novotel that we have the pride and privilege of staging the 16th Hampshire Open Darts Tournament 2015.

“The event continues to rank amongst the best supported in the country and is a prominent and hugely popular feature of the UK darting calendar.

“We have had the perennial problems with finding a suitable date but now all is in place for June 14 when hopefully a cracking day of darts will be matched by the weather.”

The field will be restricted to 320 competitiors and is open to all players over the age of 13 on the day, regardless of affiliation to whatever darts body.

Top players from Hampshire have secured the title in the past including former World Darts Champion Les Wallace in 2004 and Colin Monk on three occasions.

Branscombe, who urged early entry to avoid disappointment, added: “Hampshire County darts thank all players for their support of this event over the years and look forward to meeting friends old and new – see you there.”

Entry costs £10 and the closing date is Friday, June 5.

See today's Daily Echo for the entry form.