It was Hammer-time in Portsmouth last night as 58-year-old Andy Hamilton rolled back the years to claim the latest MODUS Super Series title.
Showing that age is just a number, the Stoke ace ended a six-day marathon to triumph and earn a spot in the end-of-series Champions Week.
Darts World caught up with Andy, fresh as a daisy on Sunday morning, for a quick chat about the win. Here’s what he had to say:
“Overall, I think I did enough and was a deserved winner. I love this game, and the fire is probably burning more than ever. That’s because I feel I need to try harder these days, but winning breeds confidence, and I’m delighted with the result.”
Hamilton edged Carl Sneyd in the final, grabbing the deciding leg against the darts. But going into that shoot-out, it was the Oldham man feeling the jitters more, as Andy explains:
“I could see from his body language he was nervous. But everyone is playing for different reasons. I’m fortunate that the financial pressures aren’t on my shoulders as they maybe are for others. Carl had beaten me all week, and I was sick of losing to him! I knew eventually I’d get to beat him, and thankfully for me, it was in the main game.”
Andy doesn’t dwell on past results – even though he did mention keeping count of the fact Phil Taylor beat him 37 times on the trot. Each game is a new one, and once he’s up on that oche, what happened before goes out the window. For some, defeat is devastating:
“In the back afterwards, sadly, Carl was on his knees in despair. That final leg was effectively for £2,500, and that’s a lot of money – it’s two months’ wages for most people. I could see before he toed the oche, he looked nervous. That kind of gives you inspiration because you know your opponent isn’t relaxed. And that’s something you need to be to throw your best darts.”
Now a leaner, fitter, and healthier Hamilton – once ranked five in the world, but only third in his home town of Stoke – can look forward to another Champions Week finale.
“Yeah, it’s another great opportunity. The MODUS Super Series is the best thing to have come out of COVID. It gives amateur players yet another great avenue to perform at a high competitive level against top-quality opposition. It’s good for exposure and can be incredibly financially rewarding.”
The Hammer, with a five-grand cheque tucked in his back pocket, will now return for a shot at one worth £25k. But for him, the main goal is to simply enjoy his life and play with a smile.
“These days, it’s all about the enjoyment. I do about ten exhibitions a year, play on the PDC Challenge Tour, and also have MODUS and ADC Vault events, which are always great. There’s another organisation that’s only in its infancy, and there’ll be more money in the pot for amateur players as it grows.
“I’ll just keep going as long as I’m healthy enough to do so. It’s my passion for darts that drives me. I have a good lifestyle that I share with my partner Chloe. I enjoy 4–5 mile walks most mornings and eat the right foods. So right now, I am as happy as I’ve ever been – and if I can still play a good game, then wins like this are a great bonus.”
There you have it – one very satisfied champ who will return to Portsmouth in a couple of months for another shot at glory. Oh… and he’s asked me to mention that he’s on the hunt for a manufacturer.
He has a very large hammer and offered to do a bit of joinery to sweeten a deal. Joke!
—–ENDS—–
Images: PDC
