DORSET darts star Scott Mitchell overcame a mathematical blip – and a quality field of 400 competitors – to claim the prestigious Hampshire Open title.

Bransgore-based Mitchell (pictured) was cruising in the final against Hampshire’s Paul Gibbs and thought he was one leg away from the £1,000 winner’s cheque at Southampton’s Novotel Hotel when he celebrated a 134 game shot.

But Mitchell, a landscape gardener by profession, still had 100 left after the marker spotted and corrected his mistake before ‘Scotty Dog’ had thrown his first dart.

That allowed opponent Gibbs to halt his losing streak and hit a 74 checkout before collecting the next three legs to dramatically level at 4-4.

But Mitchell took first throw advantage from Gibbs for the third time in the following leg and was finally allowed to show his joy when he nailed a 121 three-darter to secure the crown on Sunday evening.

Mitchell said: “The guy marked 134 and changed it but I did not see that before I threw. I gave it large when I hit the shot and then realised what had happened.

“Suddenly, instead of being 5-0 up, it was 4-1. I was thinking to myself ‘how did I make that mistake?’ – I have been playing darts for a long time and should have known better.

“Paul and I know each other well – he is ‘Mr Hampshire’ to me. It was like playing a good mate and, at 4-4, I knew I needed to get two legs. Any darts player will tell you that to get the first one is most important and if Paul had got it, I think he would have gone on and won it.”

England international Mitchell, a big supporter of Poole Pirates and AFC Bournemouth, added: “I think I could have gone out in the early rounds because I did not play at my best. But as the games went on, I began to think ‘maybe this is my day’.”

Gibbs stopped it becoming an all-Dorset final after being involved in a nail-biting semi-final against Ben Ward. Lakeside World Championships regular Mitchell made the last two by winning another thrilling semi – defeating Portsmouth youngster Sam Head.

Former BDO World Master and three-times Hampshire Open winner Colin Monk lost out in the last 16, as did 2011 king Johnny Haines.

Les Wallace, Lakeside world champion in 1997 and a former Hampshire Open winner, lost a tough opener to Isle of Wight’s talented Tony Broughton.

The popular event was staged by the Hampshire Darts Organisation. Spokesman Frank Branscombe said: “It was another great day. Everyone involved was brilliant, including all the staff at the Novotel. We will be back next year and aim to make it even better.”