Saturday 10 January 2015 22:44, UK
Three-time world champion Martin 'Wolfie' Adams came through an 11-set thriller to book his place in Sunday's British Darts Organisation's world final at Frimley Green.
The 58-year-old Adams beat Glen Durrant 6-5, coming from 5-4 down and then from 2-0 behind in the decider to win by two clear legs 5-3, in one of the finest games seen on the Lakeside stage in years.
In the first leg of the seventh set, with the match finely poised at 3-3, number three seed Adams came within millimetres of only the second nine-darter in BDO World Championship history.
His effort at double 12, and a £52,000 bonus, landed just inside the wire and, to add to Adams' disappointment, Durrant won the leg to go in front for the first time.
American Paul Lim achieved the nine-dart feat for the one and only time back in 1990.
"I'm still in a blur," said Adams after booking his fifth world decider. "It was a tough game, nip and tuck all the way. I just said to myself 'you can do this, get it done'.
"I didn't want to muck about. The way the match went, I was always expecting to be on a finish.
"Glen is a marvellous darts player and has been throwing some good stuff."
His opponent will be Dorset's Scott Mitchell, who whitewashed Canada's Jeff Smith 6-0 in the afternoon match.
Also on Saturday, Lisa Ashton retained her women's title, beating Fallon Sherrock 3-1.
Bolton veteran Ashton was pushed all the way by the 20-year-old, but cashed in on a series of missed doubles.
