Silsden’s Garry Thompson is hoping experience will ensure he is not camera shy at the forthcoming BDO World Darts Championships.

The 45-year-old competes for the third time at the televised Lakeside venue in Frimley Green, having reached the quarter-finals last year.

And Thompson believes the experience of having already played in the national spotlight will stand him in good stead as he bids to go even further this time round.

“It is a big step up playing in front of the TV cameras but this is my third year there, so hopefully the nerves won’t be as bad,” he said.

Thompson faces German Arno Merk in the first round on Sunday. As tenth seed, the Silsden ace is expected to progress against an opponent who has never played at the event before – but he is taking nothing for granted.

“It’s not really much of an advantage being seeded as there are so many good players out there,” said Thompson, who was unranked last year when he beat sixth seed Ross Montgomery and Martin McCloskey on his way to the last eight.

Victory this weekend could set up a second-round rematch with Montgomery, while Yorkshire team-mate Scott Waites, from Bradford, could be a possible semi-final opponent.

But Thompson, who bowed out against champion Martin ‘Wolfie’ Adams last year, is not looking that far ahead.

He would love to take on his room-mate and good friend Waites, who faces 2009 champion Ted Hankey in the first round, but knows that possibility is a long way down the line.

“I’d certainly take playing Scott in the semi-final but I’m only concentrating on trying to win my first match,” he said.

Skipton-born Thompson has already been given a pre-tournament boost with news that he has been selected for England’s six-man team for the first time.

The county captain will link up with fellow Yorkshiremen Waites, John ‘Boy’ Walton and Martin Atkins in February’s Six Nations Cup in Scotland.

Thompson, who recently beat Hankey in Holland, said: “I’ve played for the 12-man team before but this is the next step up.

“I am really chuffed to get selected as I wasn’t expecting it. It’s definitely boosted my confidence.”

Reigning champion Adams is the favourite to retain his crown in the event, which starts on Saturday and runs until Sunday, January 9.

In-form Waites is second favourite, with Thompson rated as an outsider at 66-1.