DARTS player Jim Williams might have to bite The Bullet in his maiden appearance at The Lakeside World Professional Championships.

Williams could face top-ranked Stephen ‘The Bullet’ Bunting in the second round of next month’s BBC-televised British Darts Organisation (BDO) competition.

The Herefordshire ace admits he’s trying not to think too much about his debut at the famous Frimley Green sporting venue.

He will face either Dave Prins or Dutchman Jeroen Geerdink in an evening first-round tie on Tuesday, January 7.

“It’s the first year I will be there and it’s the venue at which every professional darts player dreams of playing,” said Williams, who hails from Shobdon.

“If I get through my first round match, I could play Stephen Bunting in the second round.

“He’s the top-ranked player and the favourite and he’s the player who knocked me out of the last year’s World Masters in the quarter-finals.

“I owe him one and, if I could get past him, it would be a much easier run from there.

“I am getting nervous just thinking about The Lakeside.

“My dad loves his darts and, every Christmas, we would always watch the darts together on the television”

Williams’ heart was beating quickly a fortnight ago when he was a guest, along with tennis legend Boris Becker, at Luctonians Rugby Club.

“Boris was told to hold a dart board above his head and it was my job to hit the board,” he said.

“I have never been so nervous throwing a dart.

“Don Jaques marked out the distance and I said I would go for the Bullseye. I hit the 25.”

He added: “Boris was very nice and down to earth.

“We talked a bit about sport – he was more interested in talking about football."

The 29-year-old will be taking his girlfriend Natalie Fisher to London.

Williams, who works a joiner, is listed 16th in the British Darts Organisation rankings.

He has also qualified for a new competition - the World Trophy - in Blackpool in February.

He shot to prominence about 16 months ago after reaching the quarter-finals of the World Masters in Hull.

Williams, who lives in Presteigne, has just started his second season as a professional on the BDO circuit.

He reached the semi-finals of the Northern Ireland Open, won the pairs at the Jersey Darts Festivial and reached the last 16 of the singles.

He won the mixed pairs competition in the Czech Republic and lost in the last 16 of the singles.

“I am enjoying the new season – I am hoping it will go just as well as my first but they might be looking out for me this time.”

“I have been practising every night and, from Christmas, until the New Year I will probably take some time off work,” he said.

“As a seeded player, I have been booked into the Lakeside Hotel and it has all been paid for.”

Williams plays county darts for Montgomery and Radnor in the same team as his dad, Dave Williams.

The sportsman is supported by businessmen Mark Blandford, a director of YouWin, and Don Jaques, from Jaques International.

* This year’s BDO World Professional Championships, which start on Saturday, January 4 at 1pm, will be televised exclusively by the BBC.

There will be live darts every afternoon Monday to Thursday between 1pm and 4.15pm, also a highlights programme every evening.

The championship will be available on the RED Button with both the women's and men’s finals being shown live.