Tensions can run high at the oche. Never more so than when in the pressure cooker of the World Championships – something Adrian Lewis knows all too well.
The pinnacle darts competition returned to our screens last week for this year's championships, complete with the wild, jubilant and sometimes hostile scenes at Alexandra Palace. But while the crowd at Ally Pally can raise the temperature for those involved, it's nothing compared to the cosy atmosphere of its former venue, the Circus Tavern in Essex, where the quarter-final match between Lewis and rival Peter Manley in 2006 reached boiling point.
Manley – fifth seed for the tournament – was ahead 3-1 on sets and was tied at a leg apiece with 20th seed Lewis in the fifth set. Manley then missed three chances to check out, allowing his opponent the chance to edge ahead in the set, before Lewis stormed off stage.
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In footage of the match, it was obvious Manley muttered something to Lewis just before he was about to take his shot and get the next leg under way. Clearly incensed by his opponent's comments, a furious Lewis walked straight off stage and into the backstage area to regain his composure, leaving a stunned Manley to throw some practice shots on his own as the crowd launched into a loud chorus of boos.
But what was their flashpoint all about?
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“Everyone wants to know what I said behind Adrian’s back, that’s one of the most asked questions," Manley told Daily Star Sportlast year. “It was like ‘you’re having a laugh’ and in my mind I’m thinking ‘just get on with it’. He was messing about, going on longer about it than it was actually worth."
Lewis would return around a minute or so later to resume the match – one he would eventually lose 5-3 as he crashed out of the tournament. “That was the year Sky and everyone had built him up for a [Phil] Taylor-Lewis final, and he didn’t get there did he,” added Manley.
Indeed it was Manley who would go all the way to the final, only to be thrashed by Phil 'The Power' Taylor 7-0 in a one-sided contest. But what about his relationship with Lewis?
Well, rather than it be the start of a long-running feud, Manley made the first move to appease the situation and claims he and Lewis actually became really good friends.
“We went to a tournament soon after and he walked past me. I’m not one to fester on things. At the end of the day, we were going to be seeing each other," Manley explained.
“Adrian has become a good friend, he’s my wife’s favourite. There’s no anonymity there now, it’s great. He went on to win two world titles. It was never in doubt that he was going to do that.”
While Lewis bagged two world titles, Manley's 2006 effort was the third and last time he'd reach the final, having also lost to Taylor in 1999 and 2002. He did win one major title, however, beating John Part in the final of the Vegas Desert Classic in 2003 and was even ranked as world No.1 on two occasions.
“They [the fans] remember me for Vegas and obviously for the character, because I didn’t really hold back," Manley added. "I just said what I felt.”
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