OXFORDSHIRE star Deta Hedman believes she can go all the way in the Lakeside World Championship at Frimley Green.
The No 2 seed faces Belgium’s Patricia de Peuter in the quarter-finals on Sunday (8.10pm).
And the 51-year-old feels she has learnt from her first experience of the Lakeside last January when she bowed out to eventual winner and eight-times champion Trina Gulliver in the semi-finals.
Hedman, who is ranked No 1 by the World Darts Federation, admits she struggled with the distractions of playing in front of 1,400 darts-mad fans.
“I should be different this year,” she said. “I know what to expect. “I have confidence in myself. The only person that would beat me is me – simple as that.
“There is a bit of razzamatazz and it is harder to concentrate than on the smaller stages, but hopefully I will put it all together.”
Hedman, known as ‘The Dark Destroyer’, is unbeaten against de Peuter, but she says that will count for nothing on Sunday.
“She is a good player,” added the Oxon ace. “I think I have only played her twice and beaten her twice, but darts is on the day no matter how good you are.
“I am in a good place at the minute with my darts.”
The winner will meet either Julie Gore or Rhian Edwards in the semi-finals.
Gulliver, who used to play for The Shears, Wantage, opens the defence of her crown against Wendy Reinstadler tomorrow night.
But Hedman, who lives at Witham in Essex, says she holds no fears for her.
“She doesn’t bother me – it is on the day,” she added. “I beat her and she beats me.”
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