NEWPORT darts ace Keegan Brown says playing on home turf in his bid to retain his 1Leisure Professional Darts Masters title tonight (Friday) will give him added pressure.

Keegan, a former world youth champion, aims to check out 2018 on a winning high against the likes of world number one Michael van Gerwen in the exhibition event at Newport's Medina Theatre.

Keegan, 26, who was knocked out of the high profile Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals in Minehead by van Gerwen two weeks ago, will be looking for revenge.

"When Michael beat me that night, he was unplayable. I couldn't do anything right against him," said Keegan.

"It would be nice to beat him. I want to win the title again, as I did last year.

"But playing at home puts added pressure on me because I obviously want to do well in front of my home fans."

As well as van Gerwen, the five-star darts event will also feature World Championship semi-finalist Jamie Lewis, another Dutch ace, Vincent Van der Voort, and entertaining former pro star, Wayne Mardle.

"It's good to have professional darts back on the Island. It should be a great night for darts fans on the Island," added Keegan.

"If I do well in the event, it would give me a lot of confidence going into the World Championships this coming week."

Keegan, who still works for the Isle of Wight NHS Trust at St Mary’s Hospital, Newport, will be playing his first round match in the PDC World Championships 2019, at Alexandra Palace, London, next Friday evening against Karel Sedlacek, of the Czech Republic.

If he wins, Keegan will face 24th seeded player Jelle Klaaasen, of the Netherlands.

This evening's event is being sponsored by Helping Hand Care Services.