The 56-year-old flamboyant player, who doubles up as a BBC pundit when he is not on the oche, beat all the odds once again to grab one of the five remaining places at the end of November.

It is believed to be the fifth time - even Bobby can't remember - that the two-time runner-up and former double News of the World champion has qualified via the notoriously tough route.

George is sometimes criticised for being invited into the day-long international play-offs instead of playing his way there.

Even then in the play-offs, he is just one of around 300 top class players fighting for just five places - all former champions also get an automatic invite.

"You still have to do it on the day," chuckles George.

"My first game against Alan Reynolds was hard but I finished with 15, 12 and 12 darts in the last set - not bad for an old one.

"There are no mugs there at all. One mistake and I would have been out," added George who, like the other four winners needed to reel off six successful games in a row to make it to the finals.

With his place secured, George only had to wait three days to find out whom he must face in the first round if he is to achieve his ambition of becoming the oldest Embassy world champion.

The draw, made live on BBC Grandstand for the first time, could have been kinder as Dutchman Raymond van Barneveld's name came out of the bag.

Bobby will need to invoke all of the pride and passion that only he can muster if he is to succeed... but few outside the Netherlands will be rooting against him.