THE SMILE suggested he had done it a million times before, but Steve Maish admitted he was "shaking like a leaf" when he fired in the winning double top to knock out Colin Lloyd at the Stan James World Matchplay.
Maish produced the biggest upset of the tournament so far with a stunning 10-6 win over the defending champion and world number one on Monday.
He produced the biggest win of his career in front of 2,000 fans on his Winter Gardens debut - and admitted his clinical first dart to win the game left him a nervous wreck.
"I was shaking like a leaf inside - all the emotions were going through me," he said. "On the last dart at double top, I literally threw it and hoped it went in!
"I thought if I didn't get it first time I'd never get it, and luckily enough it went in.
"I took a big shot out in the first leg and that settled me down.
"Just to get up on that stage and play in the World Matchplay was awesome. Drawing Colin wasn't nice but I think I was the best player on the night.
"It was great, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. All the pressure was on Colin, there was no pressure on me and he didn't play like he can.
"That's my best display on stage. It's massive pressure up there.
"You have 2,000 people watching you and television cameras are on you and it's hugely different to a ranking tournament with a few people there.
"If I could take my floor game (from tournaments away from the TV cameras) to the stage I would be a different player so hopefully this will be the turning point now."
Maish will meet Chris Mason in the second round, and he said: "It's just another game.
"If the darts go well on the night then I'll win, if they don't I won't win, it's as simple as that.
"Chris is a very good friend of mine, we've played each other a couple of times and I think it's 1-1 at the moment. It will be a good game."
Maish is hoping that a good run in Blackpool will help his challenge for a place in the world's top 24, who gain automatic entry to October's SkyBet World Grand Prix.
"I wanted to be in this event and I want to get into the top 24 to get a place in the World Grand Prix," he added.
"I'll be in the World Championship at the end of the year, so it's onwards and upwards for me now.
"I want to try and get in the top 16 and the ultimate goal is the Premier League, which is the top six!"