HE’S the bookies’ favourite.

And so far Scott – Scotty 2 Hotty – Waites is living up to his moniker at the BDO World Darts Championships.

Waites has blazed through into the second round with a 3-1 win over Andy Boulton.

And tonight, the carpenter from Outlane, is confident he’ll be able to beat Ted Hankey in the second round (best of seven sets).

Former champion Ted “The Count” Hankey moved into the last 16 of the BDO World Championship with a 3-2 win over debutant Clive Barden.

In a heated encounter, Hankey led 2-0 but was pegged back by his inexperienced opponent.

However, ‘The Count’ held his nerve to see out the win by taking an exciting fifth set.

Waites, the joint favourite at Lakeside, scorched into the second round despite a spirited fightback by Boulton.

Waites will be watched by hundreds of supporters on the Huddersfield darts circuit – including his teammates at The Dusty Miller in Longwood and The Foresters Arms at Crosland Moor.

The 34-year-old told the Examiner: “I’m feeling quite confident. It’s not a tough game, I beat him last year so there’s no reason why I can’t do the same this time.”

The championships are at the Lakeside Country Club in Surrey and Scott said the atmosphere has been “brilliant.”

The second seed said: “The support down here is really, really good. It’s only a really small venue so the atmosphere is great.

“You get a lot of respect off all the spectators.

“I’ve had friends and family down to watch and a few have gone back home but they are coming back for the next game.”

Waites, who lives with partner Sally and son Michael, is joint favourite to win, alongside holder Martin Adams.

Although Adams as reigning champion is the No1 seed for this year’s championship and Scott is No2, both men are quoted as joint 4-1 favourites with the bookmakers.

Scott said: “I think a lot of people could win it this year.

“My key is to play a little bit better than I did in the last game because that wasn’t my best.

“If you lose your nerve then you’ve got no chance of winning.

“I have a bit of anticipation for the first couple of legs because it takes me a couple of legs to get settled down. After that I’m all right.

“You’ve just got to practice to keep your concentration and for some reason half way through the game you cannot even hear the crowd.”

Robert Kendal, landlord at The Dusty Miller in Longwood, said all the darts players at the pub will be tuning in to watch Waites in today’s match.

Tonight’s schedule:

1.30pm to 3pm BBC Two/online

11.20pm to 3.10am BBC Two

FACTFILE

Waites played for England in the 2009 WDF World Cup in America and in the victorious 2010 WDF Europe Cup, when he won the pairs title with Martin Adams, and the 2011 WDF World Cup where he won team and men’s singles gold medals.

He’s also enjoyed victory with England in the 2010 and 2011 Six Nations Cup and BDO British Internationals.

Away from the oche he plays five-a-side football, but his biggest passion is watching Emmerdale.

He’s such a big fan that if he’s away from home his partner Sally has to record every episode for him.

His greatest ambition is to appear in Emmerdale as an ‘extra’ playing darts in the Woolpack!