Williams takes Part apart

Paul Williams, the 30-year-old England international from Bolton, beat the defending champion, John Part, at the Embassy World Championship at Frimley Green, Surrey, last night.

Williams, a semi-skilled engineer who had to qualify to play in his first World Championship, defeated the Canadian 3-2 to go through to the quarter-finals.

It was hardly a classic battle, despite the close score, because both players missed an incredible number of doubles for a match of this class. Williams held his nerve better, after Part had won the fourth set to level at 2-2, to take the final set in three straight legs.

Last year, Part had become the first overseas winner of the championship when in five matches he lost only one set. After the first two sets had been shared, Part had seven darts to win the third set, but missed them all. Williams took full advantage to gain the best win of his career.

"It was really an up and down match," Williams said. "I can hardly believe I'm in the last eight. I just hope I can keep it up."

Richie Burnett, the 27-year-old Welsh international who is favourite to win the title, struggled for 53 minutes to beat the accurate Australian Russell Stewart in another 3-2 finish. Burnett, the second seed, needed 33 attempts to sink 11 doubles, while

Stewart hit nine out of his first 14 before faltering in the final leg of the second-round match.

Results, Sporting Digest, page 39