Darts veteran Paul Lim will represent Singapore at the two-day Professional Darts Association (PDC) Shanghai Masters beginning on July 6, where eight selected Asian players will compete against the eight top-ranked PDC players.

"I would be very happy to make the semi-finals in Shanghai," said the Hong Kong-based Lim, 63, who is relishing the opportunity to compete against the best players for the second successive year.

Competitors for the Shanghai event are picked on a combination of their performances as well as their PDC earnings.

"It'll be an achievement (to make the semi-finals), as the competition is very prestigious."

At the World Cup of Darts this month, he and Harith Lim beat top seeds Scotland in the first round and became the first Singaporeans to reach the quarter-finals.

He then won Stage Two of the Soft Darts World Championship - otherwise known as "The World" - in La Rochelle, France on June 18.

His victory against Belgium's Francis Emonts in the final earned him US$15,000 (S$20,864) in prize money.

"The World Stage is a very tough tournament with high-calibre players, so I'm very pleased to have won it," said Lim, in a phone interview.

"Top European players came to France to play, but they don't usually come to Asia as it costs too much to come (here).

"A win is always something to cherish, especially at The World Stage."

Introduced in 2011, The World is an annual tournament that comprises various stages played in different countries over the course of a year.

This year, Stage One was held in the United States. The remaining four stages will be held in Chinese Taipei, Japan, Malaysia and Hong Kong.

Lim was overall champion in 2013 and last year.

By winning Stage Two, he has topped The World rankings, leapfrogging Stage One winner Alex Reyes of the United States, 85 points to 74.

A top-four overall finish guarantees a place in the 16-player Super Darts 2018 tournament, where champions and top-ranked soft tip darts players will compete in Japan.

Ian Kiew