Silsden world darts quarter-finalist Garry Thompson intends to use his conqueror Martin ‘Wolfie’ Adams as inspiration to do even better next year.

Unseeded Thompson reach-ed the last eight in only his second appearance at the BDO World Championship before losing to Adams, who went on to claim his second title in four years.

That success came despite Adams being the oldest player in the field at 53 and left Thompson, who turned 45 on Sunday, hoping his best years are still ahead of him.

He said: “Martin’s 53 and still winning so it shows you what’s possible.

“Hopefully, I’ve a few years left in me and can do a bit better.

“I’d like to think I could try and reach the final. I think I’m capable but it’s about performing at your best on the day.”

Victories over sixth seed Ross Montgomery (3-2) and Martin McCloskey (4-1) left Thompson “over the moon” before he bowed out 5-2 to Adams, whose first title in 2007 came after 14 years at the event.

The Silsden ace said: “I went there to win but, with it only being my second attempt there, I was made up to reach the quarter-final.”

Thompson, who works as an engineer at Keighley firm Teconnex, is the current captain of Yorkshire and has national honours.

But he admitted that performing on national television had taken some getting used to.

He said: “It was very nervy as I’m just used to playing in pubs. Although I play for my county and have represented England six times, I don’t usually experience pressure like that – having the lights and the cameras on you and the audience so close.”

Thompson, who started playing darts 25 years ago for the Engineers Club in Keighley, was full of praise for champion Adams, 7-5 victor over Dave Chisnall in the final.

He said: “He has a brilliant record, which speaks for itself.

“It was pretty daunting facing him. When he’s producing treble after treble, you don’t know what to say.

“But he is also a real gentleman and is always praising you.

“I just didn’t want to get beat by nil. I wanted to take some sets and make a game of it, which I managed to do.” Skipton-born Thompson, who still plays locally for the Red Lion in Silsden, lost the first set to Adams 3-0 but hit back to win the second 3-1.

The third seed restored his advantage with another 3-0 set before winning six of the next seven legs to take a 4-1 interval lead.

Thompson reduced the deficit by edging the sixth set 3-2 but Adams finished the contest in the next 3-0 with an 81 checkout.

The Yorkshireman’s defeat came as his county team-mate and second seed Scott Waites, from Bradford, also bowed out at the same stage.

Success for both would have seen them meet in the last four and Thompson said: “I know Scott very well. We play pairs together and I room with him when we travel abroad.

“It would have been a bit strange had we faced each other.”

Meanwhile, Thompson confessed he is not a big rugby league fan, even though he is known as ‘The Cougar’.

He said: “I played a lot of darts in Bradford and Bradford Bulls fans used to take the ‘mickey’ out of the Cougars so I gave myself the name. It was just banter really. I’m more of a football fan.”