PAUL Williams felt like chucking away his darts last night after his dreams of winning the Embassy World Darts Championship ended in disaster. Williams was inconsolable after collecting just two legs in a crushing 3-0 second round defeat at the hands of Andy Fordham.
The man they call 'Smiler' had only a grimace following his worst performance in five trips to the Lakeside, and even a consolation cheque of £3,600 failed to lift his spirits.
"You only get one crack at this title each year and I have blown it," said the 34-year-old Bolton engineer.
"I just feel as though I have let myself down and everyone who has supported me. I cannot believe I played that badly."
It was certainly a different Williams from the player who had survived a thriller against Matt Clark in the first round, although he was quick to congratulate in-form Fordham. The giant Londoner, known as the 'Viking', averaged close to 33 per dart and barely missed a double in a powershow that would have had most professionals reeling.
Finishes in 12 darts and 11 in successive legs in the second set tore the heart out of Williams and the third set was little more than a formality.
"Andy played really, really well. I met a good player in good form, " said Williams who had beaten Fordham on their two previous meetings.
"I did nothing right and, when I walked off the stage, I could have just thrown my darts away.
"But it would be daft to give up when I still feel as though I have got the talent to win a lot more titles, including this one."
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article