JAMIE HUGHES believes he can win the Betfred World Matchplay after landing his first senior PDC title at the Czech Darts Open in Prague on Sunday.
Hughes, who won his PDC Tour Card for the first time in January, sensationally secured his Winter Gardens debut with an 8-3 defeat of Stephen Bunting in the final of the PDC's first ever Czech event.
The £25,000 winner's prize was the biggest payday of Hughes' career, and the 33-year-old believes this is just the start of things to come.
"This ranks as probably my biggest achievement in darts, it doesn't feel real," said two-time Lakeside semi-finalist Hughes.
"To come out of nowhere and force myself into the World Matchplay is a bit of a fairytale story. Michael van Gerwen, an all-time great, was in the field for the event, yet I'm the one coming away with the trophy.
"I never go into any tournament saying I'm going to win this or that, I just say to myself 'be the best you and they'll have to play well to beat you'.
"Earlier in the year I was posting massive averages and losing, but recently I've been winning with low averages, so it's all about hitting doubles.
"Hopefully I can kick on now. I'm hoping that this is the start of big things for me starting in Blackpool.
"Of course I can win the World Matchplay, if you look at the stats I'm as good as anyone so why not?"
The Betfred World Matchplay will be held from July 20-28 at The Winter Gardens, Blackpool.
Broadcast live on Sky Sports, the tournament will see 32 players competing across nine days.