JAMES HUBBARD admits he has had a 'crazy week' after qualifying for the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts.
The 19-year-old from Norfolk won a spot at the Wolverhampton Civic when he reached the final of the PDC Unicorn World Youth Championship last Friday in Crawley.
His rise into the spotlight was accelerated on Monday when he was drawn into Group E of the Grand Slam alongside top names Phil Taylor, Mervyn King and Steve Beaton - handing him a televised debut against 15-time World Champion Taylor on Sunday afternoon.
"It's been a pretty crazy week in general really, not just with the darts but with people recognising me and asking for a couple of autographs and photos," revealed Hubbard.
"Trying to prepare for the Grand Slam is difficult because my mind is elsewhere, but I'll be fine once I get there.
"It's not the draw that you want if you're hoping to do well, but I'm not expected to do well so it's a perfect draw for me, experience-wise.
"I've got three games on TV and that will only do me good ahead of the World Youth Championship Final."
Hubbard's father Vic is a former professional who competed four times in the UK Open and also in the 1986 Embassy Championship, and James admitted that he has been given some tips on how to cope in front of the Sky Sports cameras against Phil Taylor.
"He's a perfect person to listen to," said James, who works as a decorator with Vic in Wymondham.
"He played Phil a couple of times on the circuit, I think twice in a couple of UK Open qualifiers, and he played quite well against him
"He gives me plenty of advice, not just for TV games but in general too. The biggest thing he said to me was about when you get to the last leg deciders in a game, to stand back and give it a moment before moving in rather than rush it.
"That helped me a lot last Friday because I had two deciders and played two good last legs."
Hubbard will turn professional in 2012 and faces Michael van Gerwen for the £10,000 World Youth Championship title on May 17 at The O2 during the Premier League Darts play-offs.
However, he admits such a rise was beyond his expectations when he arrived in Crawley for the tournament's Last 64 after qualifying by winning a knockout in the Rileys Norwich Darts Zone.
"I've been playing well for a while but my problem is that I don't really believe in myself enough," he said. "I never really expected to do as well as I did in Crawley, but I kept winning and winning, and I got through.
"It's been a dream."
Tickets for the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts can be purchased from the Wolves Civic Box Office on 0870 320 7000.