Darren O’Neill has retained his coveted Tendring Open title.

The Essex county captain was victorious at Clacton Railway Club, on Friday night.

A strong field of 41 players took part, including 13 who have represented Essex.

The final was a great contest between two of the the district’s best players and a repeat of last year’s match between O’Neill and Kevin Edwards.

O’Neill ran out victorious following a 4-1 victory.

He has now won the event three times out of the four it has been run and this success follows up his Great Wakering Open triumph back in April.

In the quarter-finals, O’Neill (Railway) defeated the in-form Paul Barham 3-1.

Barham, of Coggeshall, was recently runner-up in in the BDO Gold Cup singles event at the Lakeside Country Club, in Frimley Green.

Great Bentley’s Edwards defeated Clacton player and former England international Rab Scott 3-0, while Wayne Bloomfield (The Red Lion) disposed of fellow Essex county man Barry Lynn, of Braintree, 3-0.

Essex player Alan Collins, of Great Bromley, defeated former county man Karl Mullenger (The Red Lion) 3-0.

In the first semi-final, O’Neill booked his place in the final with a 3-1 victory over Bloomfield, before Edwards completed a 3-0 victory against Collins.

Then, in the final, O’Neill retained his title after clinching a 4-2 victoy.

Edwards claimed the highest finish with 148.