By Paul Birch

VAN GERWEN: NEW DARTS STAR Age: 17: Nationality: Dutch Nickname: Mighty Mike 2006 record: Won World Masters; Semi-final World Darts Trophy

Raymond van Barneveld's epic victory over Phil Taylor in the final of the PDC World Championship saw darts hit the headlines in a way not seen since the halcyon days of Bristow, Wilson and Lowe in the 1980s.

Their thrilling sudden-death classic prompted one national newspaper to rank it up there with England's Rugby World Cup final win and the 1985 World Snooker final between Dennis Taylor and Steve Davis in terms of excitement and drama.

Which leaves the rival Lakeside World Darts Championship, run by the BDO, facing a case of 'after the Lord Mayor's Show' perhaps?

Not a bit of it, according to Lakeside legend Bobby George.

The state of darts at the BDO has never been rosier, says George, thanks to a new breed of players led by Dutch teen sensation Michael van Gerwen.

I love it - it's better than making love Bobby George on playing at the Lakeside

The 17-year-old stunned world number one Martin Adams in the final of the World Masters in October and is George's tip to claim glory at Frimley Green when the action gets under way on Saturday.

"He has been born with a gift to play darts," says George about the number three seed.

"He has all the ability and temperament so I have to go for him to win."

Victory would see Van Gerwen emulate his friend and countryman Jelle Klaasen, who became the youngest world darts champion last year when, aged just 21, he beat Van Barneveld.

George believes that Klaasen and Van Gerwen's youth gives them the mental strength and edge to succeed.

"Like Jelle last year, Michael has no fear," says George. "Darts is in your head. If you start thinking about things you miss shots.

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"If you just play the board and you focus on what you are doing and get it together, you become a winner."

After his Masters win, world number one 'Wolfie' Adams said Van Gerwen could rule the world of darts as long as the lure of women didn't distract him, a claim George scoffs at.

"Martin Adams hasn't met any women so how does he know?" jokes George.

"They do get to a certain age when they get with girls and do other things but he has still got the talent to go all the way and be as successful as the likes of Barneveld.

"I think his biggest worry will be getting used to the Lakeside stage.

"I love it, it's better than making love. You can't buy that feeling when you go on that stage, it's absolutely marvellous.

"But I think he will be a bit nervous as it is a completely different stage for him. For every player, the first game is like a final.

Jelle Klaasen became the youngest world champion last year

"If the boy can get past that first one then he can settle down his nerves, the crowd will push him and then he can go on from there."

Should Van Gerwen impress it will surely prompt more speculation that he, like Barneveld and Taylor before him, will defect to the more lucrative PDC.

George is not concerned about such a possibility though, insisting the depth of talent is such that his absence would not hit the organisation hard.

"It's freedom of choice; if players want to go over there then they can go over there," he says.

"If people pay Michael to go somewhere else it's up to the individual, but it doesn't matter as there's plenty more coming through.

"But what everyone has to remember is that if you open your front door and let too many people in, you will be pushed out of the back door.

"So if the PDC keep inviting everyone into their system, players could easily be pushed out."