Lakeside next for rising darter Jamie Hughes
Tipton's Jamie Hughes will get another big break on TV at the BDO World Championship after a career-best week for the rising darter.
The 28-year-old banked £10,000 for a run to the Winmau World Masters final and is now preparing for the big one at Lakeside in January.
With his appearance at the biggest event on the organisation's calendar already in the bag, only Martin Phillips could stop him for the trophy.
His star turn was seen across several countries live on Euro Sport and BBC viewers will see if he can be a star package again in the New Year.
Hughes will tackle either David Cameron or Michel van der Horst at the worlds, who must play each other in the qualifying round for the right to face him.
'Youzza' flew out of the blocks against Phillips at the Hull Sports Arena, taking a two-set lead before the stunned Welshman manage to pull level.
Phillips came back from a break in play on fire and took the next three sets, before Hughes replied with one of his own.
He then showed great character when, at one leg away from losing the game, he clawed another back, but big scores pushed Phillips on and he won his first major televised title, 7-3, on double 10.
Hughes had pulled off a shock against three-time Masters champion Martin Adams in the semi-final, on what was a tough road to the final.
In all of his ties, he had to come from behind to succeed and, against 'Wolfie,' came from 5-2 down to go through 6-5 after a sudden death leg.
Hughes had earlier dispatched Alan Norris 3-2, following on from his success on day two. There he beat Pip Blackwell 3-2 in the last 16, after a 3-1 win over Shane Burgess on day one.
