BRANSGORE thrower Scott Mitchell believes taking to the oche over the internet could send the sport of darts to a completely different level.

The former BDO world champion was invited to take part in the ‘A Night At The Darts’ league, run by Modus Darts Events and Management.

Playing remotely at his farm, the Dorset star on Tuesday took on five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld for the first time ever – the Dutch legend also signing in via his respective living room.

Webcams are made available for both players’ boards, so fans can also log on to watch the action.

Due to the new concept, England ace Mitchell is now one of the only people in the county to continue playing his competitive sport amid the coronavirus pandemic.

He won one of his first four games throughout his opening night and is set to compete against van Barneveld, Martin Adams, David Evans, Wessel Nijman and Ritchie Edhouse in a round-robin format throughout the week.

Speaking about the online competition, Mitchell told the Daily Echo: “I just think the concept has so many levels it can take it to and so many match-ups it can produce.

“I think it could go anywhere, I really do.

“I think it could go a long way. We have probably had our eyes closed to it for the past five or six years.

“Now this has opened our eyes to another concept, is this going to change darts forever? Who knows?

“Whether this is going to last for the months we are in lockdown or whether it is going to go on after that – I’d imagine it could.

“I’d imagine it’s something that has opened up everybody’s eyes and there are going to be more ideas towards this.

“It’s one of those where the quality is only going to get better as we get new ideas and take it further.”

The Professional Darts Corporation have also this week announced the launch of their own Home Tour, which is set to begin on Friday.

Asked how his own online setup works, Mitchell replied: “Your live stream is on your computer, you’ve got to have your phone hooked up on Zoom which keeps the players in touch with the people at HQ. If there is any technical issue they can stop you playing straight away.

“You have to have an iPad which is hooked up to Darts Connect. We see our scoring through there – we go up and shout our own score out.

“You have to be more than honest with it – that’s the concept and most players are - we all get on like a house on fire and are enjoying the concept of this.

“We are being paid. I class myself as a semi-professional dart player, it’s nice to still be able to work at it and get a few pennies coming in.

“It’s not masses amounts of money or anything like that but it’s nice to keep the bank account ticking along. There is a bonus prize for the winner of the league and the runner-up.”

The 49-year-old added: “I can see certain players that are maybe not quite so good at floor games – they may turn out to be great internet players and vice versa.

“The things that get them to stop playing when they are stood behind somebody – that won’t happen to them when they are playing over a webcam.

“I can see it producing some really good players that you usually wouldn’t see.”

Normally used to featuring competitively in front of crowds or on floor tournaments, Mitchell – a farmer in his day job – admitted the goings on around him had been slightly different for his inaugural online contests.

“Sharon my wife had the slow cooker on and we were doing some pulled pork,” he added.

“I was playing darts and I could smell the pulled pork – you can smell your tea being cooked.

“I looked out my window between throws and I had two calves playing out in the field behind me. It was tranquil and strange.

“You don’t relate those sounds and sights with playing darts – it was very different.

“Because the internet signal is very important, everybody else has to log off the internet to make sure (it worked). Particularly as remote as we are, everybody’s phone had to come off.

“Last night we had gone back in time – my family were doing a 1,000 piece puzzle laid out on the kitchen table.

“After my first match I had my pulled pork rolls for tea, then I went back in for my second match and by the time I came back, the puzzle board was out – they still haven’t finished it!”