ADRIAN Lewis headed home to the Potteries today after his bid to conquer the world shattered after a thrilling shoot-out at Alexandra Palace.

The number seven seed from Cross Heath made a second-round exit from the PDC Ladbrokes.com world championship after Paul Nicholson came through a thriller in a seventh set tie break.

Lewis finished the match with an average of 96.33 having hit 10 maximum 180s, but it wasn’t enough to take him through to the last 16.

Lewis led the match for the first time at 3-2 and after the Australian-based Geordie drew level to force a deciding set, both players had their chances to take a grip on the match.

Nicholson missed a dart at double 18 to win the contest in the fourth leg and four more attempts were off target in the next.

Lewis cashed in to send the match into a tie break at 2-2 – and then he missed crucial doubles to lead 3-2 and then 4-3.

Nicholson held his nerve to sink back-to-back finishes of 129 and 121 to win the decisive set 6-4.

Lewis shrugged: “It wasn’t my day and I’m going back to the practice board. Every time I had the chance to go in front I would wire the double and I couldn’t put them any closer.

“He played well and deserved to win. He took out some good shots.”

Nicholson announced his arrival as a force during November’s PartyPoker.net Grand Slam of Darts where he claimed the scalp of BDO number one Gary Anderson and incensed many in the crowd before bowing out in the group stages.

He responded to Lewis starting the match with an 11-darter by taking out 125 and went on to win the opening set.

Lewis levelled with the aid of two maximum 180s and then pegged back to 2-2 after Nicholson won the third before ‘Jackpot’ went ahead for the first time in the match.

Nicholson said: “It was a scrap from start to finish and there wasn’t anything between me and Adie. I had the game in my hands, then let it go and won it back again.”