Williams aims for double over pals

JIM WILLIAMS held his nerve to set up a quarter-final with defending champion and good friend Glen Durrant after a sensational victory at the BDO World Championships at Frimley Green yesterday over another of his best pals.

Welshman Williams defeated pairs partner Conan ‘The Barbarian’ Whitehead 4-3 in the best match of the Surrey tournament, securing victory on double eight after a nail-biting deciding set.

England’s Whitehead led 2-0 and looked to be cruising his way into the last eight but Williams struck a breathtaking checkout of 161 to stay in the match and then progressed to win the next four legs. “That is the most nervous I have ever been in my life,” said Williams.

“I did what I had to with the 161. I have never played well here and it has come together for once.

“We are the best of buddies, we have won so many pairs titles together.”

Whitehead said: “Jim is a top mate of mine and that 161 hurt. It came down to the end, the nitty-gritty, and he nicked it.”

With Durrant looking on, it was a game of the highest standard with 21 180s in the match, Williams hitting 11 of them.