Darts: Brooks wins Romanian Darts Classic

Brooks, from Wroot, followed her disappointing exit from the BDO World Championships earlier in January with success in Romania.

She progressed past Dimitrinka Ivanova, of Bulgaria, and Andreea Servici, of Romania, without dropping a set to set up a meeting with Dagmar Komorova of the Czech Republic.

Brooks then overcame Komorova 4-1, before a 4-2 semi final win over compatriot Hayley Brant, leaving her to claim victory over Dutch player Marjolein Noijens in the final, with a 5-3 success.

And Brooks says the trophy win was all the more valuable having taken on unfamiliar players in a contest she had never taken part in before.

“The Dutch girl I beat in the final is a very good player,” a delighted Brooks told the Bells.

“They know me which makes it difficult, there’s no element of surprise anymore.

“And these girls are national team players so there’s no messing about.

“I’d never played darts in Romania before, it’s a different experience with a lot of different players.”

Brooks used the Romania Classic competition to warm up for the Dutch Open, where she won the doubles competition in 2015.

And she says it was ideal preparation given the challenge of taking on new opponents, albeit of a high standard.

“The girls that were out there were every bit as good as the top players I meet in other tournaments, they are just unfamiliar, which perhaps makes it even more difficult,” Brooks said.

“However, it was a good standard for me to experience.

“It’s a busy spell for me but it proved a good warm up ahead of travelling to the Dutch Open.”

However, there was to be no repeat of Brooks’ success this time around in the Netherlands.

Brooks and partner Deta Hedman lost 3-2 in the quarter-finals to eventual winners Aileen de Graaf and Sharon Prins last weekend.