Friendship put to one side for Jamie Hughes
Tipton's Jamie Hughes will throw friendship out of the window when he takes on Glen Durrant in the second round of the BDO World Championship.
Hughes progressed with a 3-1 sets victory over Dutch qualifier Michel van der Horst and returns to the Lakeside stage tonight,
Durrant, his closest friend on the BDO books, recorded the same result against Karel Sedlacek in the first round, but was pushed far harder.
Sedlacek bowed out of the competition with the highest average of the competition so far and the third biggest losing total in the tournament's history, recording 99.58.
The Teeside thrower ran him reasonably close with 96.21 but was absolutely clinical on his doubles, giving Hughes plenty of food for thought.
But 'Yozza' has beaten 'Duzza' on the BDO tour before, so has heart that he can progress live in front of the BT Sport cameras and set up a clash with Darryl Fitton.
Hughes said: "I knew Glen would get through, so it was my motivation to get through and meet him so, at least, one of us is in the quarter-finals.
"He's my best mate on the tour, but we are both here to do a job. The mutual respect is there, it will be a tough game. We won't be friends up there!
"The Czech lad has gone home with the highest average of the tournament so far, that shows what a solid player Glen is.
"There's not many times he goes up the board and doesn't hit a big treble, so you have to match that or better it.
"He's a consistent finisher on the doubles, too, he doesn't miss many. He's, consistently, a between 15 and 18 leg player.
"But I have a good record against him, I think I have only lost one in five, so I take confidence in the fact that I know what I have to do.
"I have got to outscore him and hit the double first, simple as that. I will have a bit more pressure on me but, sometimes, that can make me play better."
Hughes admits he's been getting homesick without fiance Jayne and six-year-old daughter Lacey around in Frimley Green.
And he's analysed his own performance on Monday night without the television footage, which was 'tops tastic' as five of his 12 legs were finished on double 20.
He said: "I have been in two minds about what to do, watch the darts or go and practice! A few of the lads have come up to support me.
"I have only been speaking on the phone to my family, but I am used to it now after doing the circuit all of last year.
"I haven't even watched myself play on the television since Monday night but, on my debut, I would have taken what I came up with.
"Most of my missed doubles came in bunches, so I could do without having those spells again. I was pleased with my scoring, though.
"I have got a thing to do before I go for double top. I get up there and look at it, for a couple of seconds, before I throw and it seems to work. It's a good marker."
