A HEREFORDSHIRE darts player who almost shocked the world number two is hoping to turn professional following his first appearance at the Grand Slam of Darts.

Jim Williams, is currently number three ranked in the British Darts Organisation rankings leading to his qualification for the televised event last weekend.

In his first match the 34 year-old joiner from Shobdon took the Professional Darts Corporation number two ranked Pete Wright to a ninth leg before narrowly losing 5-4.

Williams lost his second game 5-2 against Josh Payne before beating Max Hopp 5-4 in his final match.

Despite averaging over 100 and hitting three 180s in his final match Williams narrowly missed qualifying to the knockout stage.

"It's a bit different to what I'm used to as a joiner," said Williams.

"I was a little bit nervous but it was all over very quickly due to the short format of the matches.

"When I was warming up against Peter Wright he hit the bull which gave him the advantage of having the throw in the final leg.

"It was difficult in my second game against Josh (Payne) as I really thought it was a game I could have got a few points but he played really well.

"And then finally it was good to get a win in the final match as I would have been gutted if I hadn't won a game.

"It was my first time at the Grand Slam of Darts and it is all very professional and the crowds are a lot bigger and loud than I'm used too."

Williams is currently having a successful season having held his number three seed in the BDO rankings along with winning five major tournaments.

Next month he will be looking on improving his quarter-final finish last year in the BDO World Championships.

He will then look to qualify for the Professional Darts Corporation through the Qualifying School in January to win a PDC Tour Card and one of 128 professional darts players.

"There is absolutely nothing between the two organisations," added Williams.

"There are probably six players who are a bit better than everybody else but between everybody else there is not a lot in it. Without a professional card it wouldn't be worth me switching across to the PDC Challenge Tour.

"The professional tour players are used to playing in the big arenas week in week out and it would be nice to play in it.

"It is my ambition which I've been working up towards and it would make life easier playing darts full-time."

At the moment Williams travels abroad to play in competitions but has to fit playing darts around his day job.