For New Zealand's Dave Harrington, competing in the world darts championships in the raucous atmosphere of Ally Pally was a long way from the pubs of Christchurch.
Sadly for Harrington, his experience was virtually over before it even began. Harrington, who was a 1000-1 outsider in a tournament offering $1 million in prizemoney, lost 4-0 to Japan's Haruki Muramatsu inside 10 minutes at the Ally Pally.
He reached the world championships after winning the New Zealand qualifying event but was outclassed by Muramatsu, who will now face former world No 1 Simon Whitlock of Australia.
Harrington said before his darts match the 9000-strong crowd at the Ally Pally would be nearly 50 times bigger than anything he's experienced.
"You watch it all the time on TV," he told Radio Sport.
''We've been to the venue so we know what it's like, but we don't actually know what it's like to be standing there when the people of the crowd are either for you or against you, which is another thing.
"I'm hoping I'm not going to let anyone down.
"I hope I'm not going to make a fool of myself and I'm just going to do my best. I'm just going to enjoy it, if I can, before and after."
