"This has been a dream from when I was fifteen" - Nathan Rafferty after debut win at PDC World Darts Championship

22-year-old Nathan Rafferty secured one of the biggest wins of his young career last night, defeating Jermaine Wattimena in a deciding set on his World Championship debut.

An impressive victory from the young Northern Irishman that was made all the more impressive when he revealed in a post-match interview that last Thursday, the 2-time winner on the Challenge Tour was having surgery for his appendix, not exactly the ideal preparation. "Last Monday I knew something wasn't right," he says. "Lucky enough it didn't bust, otherwise I wouldn't be here."

In a topsy-turvy encounter, momentum swung back and forth between the two players. Despite having youth on his side, Rafferty was wise enough to realise that Wattimena wasn't at his best and he had to capitalise. "He's one of them players who can hit everything, but then when he doesn't you try to take advantage of it." h

Next up for Rafferty is one of the tournament favourites and two-time finalist, Michael Smith. "Michael's one of the best players in the world," Rafferty says. "But at the end of the day... I think I can give him a game if I play my proper stuff."