PAUL NICHOLSON is to compete on the PDC Pro Tour in 2009.
The Dart Players Australia number one made a huge impression with his appearances in the PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts and the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
He reached the quarter-finals of the World Championship, defeating Adrian Gray, Adrian Lewis and Dennis Priestley before losing to James Wade at Alexandra Palace.
Having dominated the Australian circuit in 2008, he will continue to compete in DPA tournaments throughout this year, but is also looking to continue his rise up the PDC Order of Merit.
The 29-year-old has now returned to Australia and will be concentrating on the DPA tour until he returns to the UK in March in an attempt to qualify for the Blue Square UK Open.
"This is a great chance for me and I'm looking forward to returning to the UK in March," said Nicholson.
"The initial aim is to win a UK Open place but there are also Players Championship events where I can qualify for the World Matchplay and even the World Championship again if I am successful.
"I'm grateful to my new sponsor, Will Lazar, for the opportunity to build on my success in the World Championship.
"It's been an incredibly long 12 months for me. I've hardly had a break, I've either been working and playing darts on a full-time basis.
"My last match in the World Championship quarter-finals against James was maybe it was one step too far as I'm not yet used to the longer format but I will learn from it. and playing regularly on the PDC Pro Tour will help me to do that."