BRANSGORE’S Scott Mitchell does not fear failure in the £450,000 Grand Slam of Darts – because he faces greater pressure in the Wimborne Monday Night League.

The Dorset and England star is tomorrow due to begin his Group F campaign at one of arrows’ richest tournaments, with PDC big hitter and 2014 runner-up Dave Chisnall lying in wait.

However, despite the magnitude of the occasion and the presence of the Sky cameras at Wolverhampton Civic Hall, Mitchell insists his outings for West Moors Social Club give him more jitters at the oche.

Mitchell told the Daily Echo: “There is more pressure on me playing in the Wimborne League on a Monday night than there is going up against these guys.

“As long as I can view it like that when I get there, I think I have half a chance.

“I walk into any pub in Wimborne and am expected to win by everyone, so this is a refreshing change.

“I was drawing 1-1 with a guy in the Wimborne League this week and wondering what it would do for my confidence if I lost five days ahead of the Grand Slam!

“I managed to overcome him 3-1 and also nicked a win playing for Dorset at Cornwall on Sunday, so at least I have a couple of victories under my belt.”

The former Lakeside champion is one of eight BDO players competing in the Grand Slam, the 47-year-old taking part for the third year in a row.

Mitchell eased past Chisnall in 2015 and trounced another seed in Adrian Lewis 12 months ago, although he failed to progress to the knockout rounds on both occasions.

The ardent Poole Pirates fan said: “The thing I learned from last year was to be a bit more relaxed.

“I excelled myself against Adrian Lewis and played what I would class as somewhere near normal against Benito van de Pas and Chris Dobey.

“But I learnt a lot from the last game against Chris. If I get in that situation again, I think I would attack it totally differently.

“I feel I’m playing okay at the moment. I’ve won four titles this year and am in as good a shape as I’ve been.

“The format is so short, it’s difficult to predict anything but I feel good and want to go one better and get out of the group.

“There is no pressure on me to do anything. It’s not about ranking points and it’s a bit of a free hit, so I can enjoy it for what it is.”

The other two players in Group F are 2014 Lakeside winner Stephen Bunting and Dutch youngster Jeffrey de Zwaan.

Mitchell added: “I go back a long way with Chizzy and Bunting. We’re all good buddies and have travelled together on the circuit, so it’s a bit of a BDO reunion.

“My record against both of them is actually quite good but we are all a few years older now so it’s different and we’ll see what happens.”