When a darts player hits a maximum, a roar of delight or a pump of the fist typically follows.

Unfortunately for Steve Farmer, he had a completely different reaction and it was not a positive one.

Berni9925 – YouTube

Farmer had high hopes against Wade, but he was undone by a brutal error[/caption]

Farmer came up against James Wade in the third round of the 2012 World Darts Championship.

As the No. 3 seed and someone who reached the semi finals of the same tournament in 2009, Wade went into their first-to-four-sets contest a heavy favourite.

However, Farmer was buoyed by victories over Ronnie Baxter and Kevin Munch in the first and second rounds respectively.

Sadly for the 60-year-old, a brutal error in the second leg of the opening set was perhaps the clearest sign possible it was not going to be his night.

Already one leg up, Wade looked to keep the momentum rolling and break Farmer’s throw.

Both men had 176 remaining, meaning a checkout wasn’t in the offing just yet.

Farmer pinned his first two darts in treble 20, meaning he could use his third dart to set up a simple finish.

The cameraman anticipated Farmer would go to the bottom section of the board.

But it quickly panned up to show Farmer had hit another treble 20, meaning he had hit a maximum.

As a result, Farmer went bust and meant he would return to the board following Wade’s next throw with 176 still remaining.

Berni9925 – YouTube

Farmer briefly celebrated after hitting a maximum against Wade…[/caption]

Berni9925 – YouTube

But he quickly realised his error as his 180 ensured he went bust[/caption]

Farmer immediately recognised the error of his ways and shook his head in disbelief.

He then looked out to the crowd in the hope someone could understand how he had messed things up so badly.

For Wade’s next visit, he pinned treble 20 twice before he moved over and hit 16, leaving him with double 20 to take out the second leg.

Farmer hit 122 to leave himself requiring 54, but Wade slammed the door shut as he needed just one dart to hit double 20 and take the second leg.

Sadly for Farmer, Wade lived up to his nickname of ‘The Machine’ as he produced a 4-0 whitewash to progress to the quarter-finals.

In an interview with BBC Radio Shropshire, Farmer later opened up about how he struggled to deal with the pressure of performing in front of a large crowd.

Berni9925 – YouTube

The 60-year-old wanted the ground to swallow him up there and then[/caption]

“I’m fighting a battle before I get up there,” Farmer said.

“When I retire I might come clean on what it is. Just the thought of getting up there is terrifying.”

Farmer added: “I just can’t play proper darts up there on that stage, it’s really frustrating. I wanted to give James a really tough game and I didn’t, I made it quite easy for him.

“I’m never going to give up darts, it’s the best game in the world.”

Farmer has not played in a PDC event since 2013.

As for Wade, he reached the semi-finals of the 2012 World Championships but was sent packing by eventual champion Adrian Lewis.