Former BDO World Darts champions Scott Waites is expecting a tough ride if he is to repeat his final appearance of 2013 this weekend.
The 37-year-old from Fixby carries the hopes of Huddersfield once again and tomorrow he faces Scotland’s Ross Montgomery in the second round at Lakeside Country Club in Frimley Green.
Waites won through his first round match against Lincolnshire’s Sam Hewson, while the tournament top seed Linthwaite’s James Wilson bowed out at the first hurdle beaten 3-1 by Sweden’s Pater Sajwani.
Waites believes the championship will be fiercely contested with a host of players in the running to take the Lakeside title after reigning champion Stephen Bunting, who defeated Alan Norris 7-4 in the 2014 final, jumped ship to the PDC tournament.
“There a lot of our decent players who are so up and down that it could be anybody’s,” said Waites.
“Stephen was playing the best darts out of all the BDO players last year, and it’s all about consistency in darts.
“Hopefully I can improve my consistency and I think I’ll have a good chance at the Lakeside.”
Waites defeated Stockport’s Tony O’Shea 7-1 in the 2013 final to become world champion for the first time, but the defence of his title was over on the first day of the 2014 event as he lost 3-0 in the first round to Norris, with an injury taking its toll.
“I got sciatica by sitting on a small bar stool trying to play dominoes for my local team,” revealed Waites.
“It was a bit of a funny predicament, but this time I have prepared well and hope I can get another win at Lakeside.
“I take every game as it comes and I don’t mind who I play, I’ll just get up there and try to win every game that’s in front of me.
“If you do, you do. If you don’t, so be it. You learn from your mistakes and try to be better the next time.”
