Jamie Hughes goes forth in BDO worlds

Hughes was 3-0 up in sets and cruising during his second round tie at Lakeside in this evening's session against Jim Williams,

Williams pulled a set back, though, and threatened to halve the deficit before the Black Country thrower took decisive action to prevail 4-1.

Hughes called it a "poor game" against a good friend from the circuit when interviewed afterwards, reasoning "it's hard to beat a best mate up on the dartboard."

They still chucked in 11 maximums between them, only three going to Hughes despite coming out on top. He was behind in the averages, too, with 84.96 to double trouble Williams' 89.85.

The 30-year-old progresses to face three-time BDO world champion and Lakeside hero Martin 'Wolfie' Adams on Friday.

The two await word on whether the game will be a part of the afternoon or evening session, because the schedule of play has yet to be decided as the second round has yet to be completed.

For the second worlds tie in succession, Hughes won the board in the practice room and chucked in a ton with his first three darts. He struck first blood, taking out tops for 85.

Williams responded with the match's first 180, only for Hughes to catch up with a swift 140, but the Welshman restored parity with his third attempt at double 16 and first since returning to the board.

With pressure on his darts, Hughes got 145 on the outer bull and returned for 57 on tops to hold his throw. A 177 came from him in the fourth leg, but Williams held with his second go at double 19.

In the deciding leg of the first set, a bounce out denied Williams his first 180 with Hughes missing tops for 160. He missed the same bed on his return, along with two at double 10.

He made no mistake with his first dart, after Williams failed to capitalise, to take a 1-0 sets lead. Williams held to take the next leg, on double 16 for 66.

Hughes restored parity on double eight for 32, with Williams immediately landing his second 180 as play resumed. 'Yozza' notched his maiden maximum in the same leg.

Double 18 for 36 saw Hughes achieve the match's first break of throw, then hold to reach halfway there with a 2-0 sets lead thanks to tops for 70

When the players returned on stage after a brief rest, Williams broke for the first time at the start of the third set in the madhouse after nine darts at a double.

A smarting Hughes broke back on tops for 52, after a second 180, for an 11-dart leg. Lagging behind, Williams chucked in his third maximum and broke again on tops.

Needing to break back for a second time to save the set, Hughes missed tops for 68 but was back on double 20 to force a deciding leg. Tops for 60 put him within a set of victory.

Williams lost his throw at the start of the fourth leg, Hughes taking double four for 20 after his opponent missed nine darts at a double during the leg.

Double six for 24 stopped the rot for Williams against the darts, holding on double eight for 16 to win successive legs for the first time in the match.

A third 180 from Hughes showed he was in no mood to concede a set, but Williams fired back with a fourth maximum of his own.

Hughes bust himself chasing down double 10, with Williams finally making him pay with a break on double four for 32 to eat into the sets gulf and make it 3-1.

With a fifth set forced, Hughes shook off the malaise to hold on tops after nine unsuccessful attempts at a double. A fifth 180 from Williams began the second leg, which he took on tops.

Williams was peppering the 180s with a sixth maximum, but failed on tops to break with Hughes adding insult to injury on the same bed.

Williams reminded people he was still alive with two 180s in one leg to make it eight maximums, ensuring another deciding leg with double 16 for 41 and an 11-dart leg.

Hughes was left sweating trying to hold and get over the line, particularly after missing double six for 72 but Williams couldn't erase 86. Hughes settled matters on double three.