Jamie Hughes is ready for his BDO world bow
Tipton's Jamie Hughes has every confidence he will handle the pressure of his BDO World Championship debut at Lakeside tonight.
The 28-year-old has been in Frimley Green since the tournament started on Saturday afternoon to soak up the atmosphere,
Now comes his call to the stage for his first round tie against Dutchman Michel van der Horst, who saw off Canadian David Cameron 3-2 in the preliminary round.
Hughes ran the rule over his opponent as a spectator, taking full advantage of the free accommodation and ticket pass afforded to all outright qualifiers.
'Yozza' insists he will play with freedom, against the man who cost his practicing partner and two-time BDO world champion Ted Hankey a Lakeside place by one ranking point.
Hughes said: "I have been at Lakeside all weekend, taking in the atmosphere and building myself up to going out there.
"I needed to get a feel for the place, as I have seen big players crumble on the stage.
"This is the highlight of everyone's year in the BDO, it's where you can become a star overnight and it's the biggest payday on the calendar, too.
"There shouldn't be fear for anyone playing at Lakeside because, after you have made it there, there's nothing to lose. It's all to gain.
"If I can get through, it looks likely I play my best mate on the tour, Glen Durrant. That will be tough but, ultimately, we both want to win and get through.
"There's no one I don't want to draw. The only one I haven't beaten this year is Scott Mitchell, which seems strange but maybe it's destiny we will meet here."
Mitchell, who put out three-time runner up Tony O'Shea in sudden death during his first round clash, is in Hughes' side of the draw.
He's no longer the Black Country's best-kept darting secret after a stellar year to become the BDO's No 6, reaching the World Masters final and winning two ranking titles.
He defeated O'Shea, Scott Waites and Martin Adams to claim the Antwerp Open, while he whitewashed Gary Robson 5-0 in the decider of the Zuiderduin Masters last month.
Hughes said: "There's not many places I haven't been to this year.
"I have played darts in Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Holland, Belgium, France, Holland and Northern Ireland to get those ranking points.
"That's a lot of Fridays and Mondays off work, which I don't get paid for as I am self-employed, but I have just about managed to break even through my prize winnings.
"I didn't miss Lakeside by much last time and I was determined I wasn't going to miss out again. Fortunately, it's paid off in the end."
