Jamie Hughes squeezes into BDO semis

Hughes trailed 3-1 and then led before three-time world champion Martin Adams levelled at 4-4 to take them to a deciding set,

That too went to a deciding leg, where Adams spurned opportunities for Hughes to advance from the quarter-finals with a single dart at tops.

The two chucked in 17 180s between them, with the Black Country thrower accounting for eight. He averaged 92.55 to Hughes 91.69.

The 30-year-old won the bull for a third straight tie in the practice room, but Adams broke his throw on tops for 72 to strike first blood.

It woke Hughes up to begin leg two with 177, but Adams held on double 14 for 94. Hughes got off the mark with double 16 for 37. 'Wolfie' took the first set on double four for 68.

Back came Adams with the darts to land the game's first 180, going ahead again on double eight for 61. A second maximum followed, with a splendid bullseye finish of 122 to break and extend his lead.

Hughes mustered his first 180, but it proved to no avail as Adams secured a second set whitewash with double 16 for 74.

Lines were again fluffed from Hughes at the start of the third set, as he failed to hold with Adams taking the advantage on double 16.

'Wolfie' landed his third 180 in the next leg, before tops to hold. Hughes managed his first break on double 16 and restored parity in the set, on double eight for 31.

Hughes broke again to take his first set from 2-0 down, on double 16. Two 180s in succession from him in the next leg threatened a nine-dart finish, but Adams prevailed on double 19.

Adams got a fourth 180 in leg two, to break on double 10. Hughes matched him with a fourth maximum, but Adams' bull finish for 83 broke to put him 3-1 up in sets through another landslide.

Hughes led at the fifth set on tops for 78, with the same bed accounting for 50 to break in the second leg. He was flying after a fifth 180, but Adams responded to break back on double 19 for 97.

Hughes fired in another 177 and got it to 3-2 in legs and sets on double eight for 32. Both traded 180s at the start of the sixth set, with Adams getting a second in the first leg.

Hughes broke again on double eight, after nine missed darts at a double from his opponent. A seventh 180 came from him in the second leg, which he took on double 10 for 40.

Tops for 67 saw him complete his first sets whitewash and level the match up at 3-3, as his customary fightback gathered pace.

It was 1-0 to Hughes again on double 16 after their return, but Adams turned the tide on tops for 135. A seventh 180 from 'Wolfie' proved to no avail, as Hughes went ahead on double 16 for 67.

A remarkable turnaround gathered pace as Hughes led in sets for the first time, going 4-3 up after double 10 for 80 with a break.

Five attempts at double 16 finally paid off for Adams to lead the eighth set, with an eighth 180 levelling them up on maximums. Missed doubles cost him next, though, as Hughes levelled on tops.

A ninth 180 from Adams gave him heart, going head in sets again on tops and levelling the match up at 4-4 in the same bed, after a Hughes miscount.

Hughes threw in the ninth and last set, making the first move on tops for 58. Adams held on tops, but a 87 finish on the bull put Hughes to within a leg of victory.

Adams had to hold to stay alive, but he would pay the dearest of prices for missed doubles this time. He missed double 10 twice and then five for 20, with Hughes stepping in tops to settle matters.