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Honest as ever, Lloyd gave this candid view: “It has been a bitter pill to swallow. I was gutted but I still haven’t got an answer as to what went wrong.”

Lloyd was most people’s tip to go all the way to the 2006 World final but was sensationally beaten by St.Helens-based qualifier Gary Welding in the 1st round.

“I have no excuses and will sit down in the New Year and analyse what went wrong,” he said. “I know it will be a horror show but I will also watch a tape of the match to feel the pain and to make sure something like that never happens again.”

‘Jaws’ was two sets up and coasting to victory, before Welding launched an incredible comeback. Unicorn’s World Matchplay champion had no answer, as he was the victim of one of the biggest shocks ever seen at The Circus Tavern.

And he revealed he has had support from a darting legend. “Eric Bristow saw me after the match and told me to forget about it. He said I’m not the first to suffer a shock defeat and I won’t be the last. He is right. I guess, I have to learn to lose bad to be able to win good!”

Lloyd added: “Let’s put things into perspective. It is a game of darts, it isn’t the end of the world and there are a lot of people a lot worse off.”

He will now be forced to go through the agony of watching the rest of the tournament and thinking of what might have been. “I won’t be hiding or anything like that,” he said. “I will be down at The Circus Tavern cheering on the rest of the boys. Roland Scholten and his partner are staying with me over Christmas, so I will be there to support him.”

It has still been a fantastic 2005 for Lloyd. He was brilliant in winning the World Matchplay crown in Blackpool and he won seven other ranking tournaments. “For me, next stop is Newcastle for the UK Open Regional, then the big Stan James event in Gibraltar. It has to be business as usual.”

But it is going to be a long wait before he can attempt to set the record straight at the biggest tournament in World darts at Purfleet. “I know I have 12 months to wait but don’t worry about me. Next year I will come back and give it a real go.”

I still firmly believe that Colin will achieve his dream of being crowned World Champion and more importantly, so does he. “I have to believe and I just know that one day, people will be talking about Colin Lloyd, World darts champion.”

Lloyd admitted it was a tough 24 hours after his defeat. “I went home and went to bed but just couldn’t sleep because I was running it over in my mind again and again. At the end of the day, it was just a bad day at the office.”

So, what about the rest of the Ladbrokes.com World Championships? “Obviously everyone is pointing to Mr.Taylor but there are some great players capable of challenging him. The top half of the draw is wide open with the likes of Scholten, Lewis and Manley all in with a chance.”

So, the latest chapter in the career of Colin Lloyd is closed. It is time to look ahead to 2006 and to proving a lot of people wrong.

By Stuart Pyke

The 2006 World Championships get under way again on Boxing Day. For up-to-date news, views and comment stay in touch with the Unicorn website.

Sid’s Diary – live from The Circus Tavern – returns after Christmas.