Andy Fordham tries to qualify for the world darts championship
Three hundred players were competing on 50 darts boards at Leisure World in Bridlington for the last four qualifying places on offer for January's BDO World Professional Darts Championships at Frimley GreenPhotograph: Tom Jenkins/GuardianAndy Fordham, 45, weighs 21 stone having lost 10 stone in weight since January. "When I look in the mirror now, I feel small and fragile," he said. "My wife says I'm not half the man I used to be, and she's not kidding."Photograph: Tom Jenkins/GuardianBirgita Gobel of Germany warms up for the first round of matchesPhotograph: Tom Jenkins/Guardian
Fordham with his Viking darts flightsPhotograph: Tom Jenkins/GuardianBBC darts pundit Bobby George, who is wearing glasses for the first time, loses in the first roundPhotograph: Tom Jenkins/GuardianFourteen-year-old Pavel Korda from Czech Republic in his first-round matchPhotograph: Tom Jenkins/GuardianThe masses are forced outside to have a cigarette because of the smoking banPhotograph: Tom Jenkins/GuardianFordham shakes hands with opponent Alan McNaughton after victory in his first-round match. "It wasn't pretty," he said afterwards. "I don’t think I’ll ever get back to my best, it’s a mixture of a few things, no drinking, losing the weight, no confidence. But I’d like to get back to compete at the highest level.” Fordham was knocked out in his second match by David Smith HayesPhotograph: Tom Jenkins/Guardian
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