TONY AYRES has hailed his run to the semi-finals of the Rileys Darts Zones UK Open as an unfortgettable experience.
The Billingshurst professional entered the UK Open ranked 62nd in the PDC Order of Merit, but jumps into the world's top 50 for the first time after claiming his biggest ever pay-day with a £10,000 run to the semi-finals in Bolton.
A second round defeat of Paul Whitworth on Thursday was followed by a 9-3 defeat of Rileys Amateur Qualifier Pete Fisher the following night as Ayres reached the last 32.
He drew Mark Walsh - who entered the UK Open as the top-ranked player after the eight qualifying events - in Saturday's fourth round, but came from 5-0 down to incredibly take a 9-7 victory and reach the last 16.
A 9-5 defeat of Alan Tabern earned Ayres his first-ever ranking quarter-final, and he returned on Sunday to dump 2008 UK Open champion James Wade from the tournament 10-9, before Gary Anderson ended his dream run with a 10-3 semi-final loss.
"I'll never forget this weekend, it's been brilliant," admitted Ayres.
"At first my goal was to get through to the Friday because I knew I had a hard second round game against Chris Loudon or the qualifier Paul Whitworth, who I knew from playing two years ago.
"Paul and I had a hard game then in Bolton and we had another hard game on Thursday, so I just got through that and it all went from there.
"I went 5-0 down against Mark Walsh and thought I was going out. I just wanted to enjoy the rest of the match, but I started coming back, made it five-all and then broke him and went on to win.
"The win over the James was the highlight and in the semi-finals Gary played well, but I don't think I played as well as I can.
"He saw me play James and knew he had to play well, and he did that."
Ayres had led Wade 3-0 and 7-4 before going 9-8 down - but the left-hander missed three match darts before Ayres took out 152 to force a deciding leg, which he won in 13 darts.
"That 152 was the biggest three darts I've ever thrown in my life," Ayres added.
"The first dart went in and I just aimed the second at it, and that went in, and I like double 16 anyway but the dart went straight in the middle. They went in and then I won the last leg. It was amazing."
Ayres qualified for the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship in 2008, defeating Andy Smith at Alexandra Palace before losing to Andy Hamilton - and he has targeted a return to that tournament as his main goal for the rest of this year.
"I'm trying to get a World Championship place at the end of the year and that's the goal now," he added.
"This [run in Bolton] should get me a Tour Card for next year and the goal now is to get into that top 48 of the Players Championship Order of Merit to make sure I'm in the World Championship.
"I seem to play better on TV than I do on the floor every weekend, but I've got to take that form into the Players Championships now."