A year ago Jason Lowe was sat in his front room watching the William Hill World Darts Championship, 12 months later he is playing for a place in the last 16 after knocking out one of the front runners and at Alexandra Palace.
Lowe, 48, sent shockwaves through the world of darts when he sent fourth seed Michael Smith crashing out of the £2.5 million tournament in the final match before the Christmas break.
The unassuming assassin had only earned his PDC Tour Card in January 2020 after the toss of a coin resulted in him entering Qualifying School.
“I actually flipped a coin and it landed on heads, I went into Q School, had a great day the first day and I went through," said Lowe, who's lack of celebration after seeing off Smith garnered intrigue from viewers and the media.
"I’m not an emotional guy. People ask me ‘why don’t you smile’ but when I’m playing in my match I get in my bubble and I concentrate. I’m not miserable, I just look that way.
“He [Smith] was shouting a bit and I thought ‘I’ve got you here’. That made me play better because I knew he was struggling.”
An impressive performance at the UK Open in March, where he took eventual winner Michael van Gerwen to a last leg decider, provided an early insight into Lowe's ability to produce on the big stage.
Seemingly unfazed by any occasion, he puts his fearless and calm approach down to the fact that he still works as a builder for his brother's company.
“I’ve not got to earn a penny at darts. All my bills are paid through my work, so win or lose I just relax, play the darts and there’s no pressure, that suits me.”
Lowe has been playing darts for 30 years but his rapid success since joining the professional circuit has made him wonder what might have been if he had given it a go sooner.
"I wished I’d done it a few years earlier because I really am enjoying it. I’ve always needed a kick up the backside. I don’t know why I put it off. I do massively regret it because I really am enjoying it. I wished I’d done it 10 years ago. I’ve missed a lot.”
Following victories against Russia's Dmitriy Gorbunov and 2019 finalist Smith on his Ally Pally debut, Lowe faces Devon Petersen in the last 32 on Tuesday afternoon - and the Cradley Heath ace is in no doubt that he can take another scalp on the sport's biggest stage.
“Every player it’s in the mind that if they’re in the competition, they can win it. There’s never any doubt in my mind that I can progress every round, I’m not here to make the numbers up, I feel as if I’ve got the game to go far.”
Tuesday December 29
Afternoon Session (1200 GMT)
3x Third Round
James Wade v Stephen Bunting
Daryl Gurney v Chris Dobey
Jason Lowe v Devon Petersen
Evening Session (1800 GMT)
1x Third Round
Dave Chisnall v Danny Noppert
2x Fourth Round
Gabriel Clemens v Krzysztof Ratajski
Michael van Gerwen v Joe Cullen