DEE Bateman suffered sudden death heartache on her return to the World Championships stage.
The Barrow darts ace gave nine-times world champion Trina Gulliver a real run for her money at the Lakeside.
Bateman threw nine tons in the match, but lost the first set 3-0 on legs as she three 18 and 17-dart legs.
The Morrison's supermarket worker reversed that score in the second set to set up the decider, where the players traded leg for leg.
It was 1-1 when Bateman appeared to be heading for a 2-1 lead with 112 remaining. However, she threw two treble-20s to bust her score, giving Gulliver a lifeline. It was one she could not take, as the Vic Tavern thrower hit double 16 with her final dart.
The match went down to a sudden death leg, with Gulliver throwing first and emerging victorious in her quest for another BDO crown thanks to a timely 140. She will face defending champion Lisa Ashton in the quarter-finals.
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