WHEN 11-year-old Daniel Thompson made it through to the quarter-finals of a pub’s darts competition he might have thought he was in with a chance.

But he reckoned without the steely determination of the player he was up against – Chris Thompson, his professional darts-playing dad.

World number 58 Chris “The Hitman” Thompson said he couldn’t show his son any mercy in the contest as it might have crept through into more important matches, so he ended up taking the match with a 3-0 victory.

But the York schoolboy had earlier displayed his talent by checking out in 21 legs and throwing a 98 finish during a first round whitewash of former Yorkshire Ladies player Jo Hodges.

Daniel has only ever played darts at home but dad Chris took him along to the Clifton Hotel’s competition to see how he would do.

Incredibly he knocked out much older and more experienced players than himself, but Chris could give him no quarter when they met in the quarter- finals.

Chris said: “I didn’t like it obviously, but I’m there to win the money that’s up for grabs so I had to do it and if you take it easy against your son it could creep into your game on the circuit so you have to show no mercy.

“But I was really proud of him as he played really well against me.”

Daniel is just the latest in what is fast becoming a darting dynasty as both Chris’s sons are aficionados of the oche.

The 37-year-old legal executive, who lives in Acomb, began playing darts about 27 years ago after watching the game on television. He then progressed to playing in a youth club, then at the pub before moving up to the Yorkshire League, then playing for the county and finally turning pro 18 months ago.

Since then he has come up against all the top players including Raymond van Barneveld, Mervyn King and Wayne Mardle.

Although he is not making enough cash to make darts his full-time job, he has had some notable victories not least making it through to the quarter-finals of the UK Open last June, appearing on Sky television.

Son Adam, 18, is also following in his father’s footsteps, playing for the Acomb Hotel and Severus WMC. He has also played for Yorkshire junior side and has been picked for the England youth team.