The Top Dart Players: Andy "The Hammer" Hamilton
Andy "The Hammer" Hamilton It’s ‘Hammer Time’ and it’s The Hammer’s time!
Andy Hamilton looks set to take his darting career to the next level after reaching his first ‘Major’ TV Final and that means winning the big tournaments and guaranteeing himself a place in the sport’s record books. His achievements over the last two years are all the more remarkable when you consider Andy struggles with diabetes and has to inject himself with insulin four times a day.
“I don’t really think about it that much,” he said. “It’s the way it is and I am far more concerned with taking the next step. When I look at what James Wade has managed to do, I know I can do exactly the same.” After four near misses, Hamilton finally reached his first major TV Final in November 2007 at the Grand Slam of Darts.
Hamilton comfortably qualified from his group, then beat Adrian Lewis, Terry Jenkins and Kevin McDine on his way to the final, where he gave Phil Taylor a real run for his money – losing by 18 legs to 11, with an average of 101 and 13 maximums…..but the consolation was the biggest cheque of his career….£35,000. He was unlucky to miss out on a place at the 2008 Premier League but he looks handily placed to put that right in 2009. The aim is to be in the top six in the PDC Order of Merit at the end of the 2008 World Grand Prix in Dublin and that will be enough to secure Hamilton his spot in the lucrative Premier League.
It really has been a rapid rise and now the Stoke star is deservedly described as one of the best darts players in the world. Hamilton’s first near miss came at the 2006 World Matchplay, when he lost in the semi-finals to Phil Taylor….the same fate awaited him at the 2007 World Championship semi-final. He lost in the last four to Raymond Van Barneveld at the 2007 US Open and of course, there was that epic run at the 2007 World Darts Trophy.
It’s all part of Hamilton’s darting education and despite all he has achieved, he admits that he still has a lot to learn. It was in September 2007 that Hamilton enjoyed one of the best weeks of his darting life, when he came within an ace of reaching the final of the prestigious World Darts Trophy in Holland. He beat the likes of Tony O’Shea and Jelle Klaasen, before producing the greatest comeback of his career. He was 1-4 down to Lakeside Champion Martin Adams in the quarter-finals but stunned the BDO star, by coming back to win by 5 sets to 4.
But there was heartbreak in the semi-finals…..Hamilton was 3-0, 4-1 and 5-3 in front against Gary Anderson, only to lose 6-5. It was the third time that Hamilton had suffered semi-final agony in a TV ‘Major…..of course, he lost to Phil Taylor at the 2006 World Matchplay and the semi-finals of the 2007 World Championship. But 2007 has seen Hamilton win his first tournaments on the PDC Pro Tour, reach those World Championship semi-finals, the last four of the prestigious US Open, two other semi-finals and four quarter-final appearances – not a bad tally for somebody who was given a second chance at the sport he loves.
The magical moment for the man they call ‘The Hammer’ came in January 2007 – just a short time after he reached the semi-finals of the last ever World Championship to be played at the famous Circus Tavern. Hamilton won his first big PDC event – the Stan James Players Championship in Gibraltar. After seeing off the likes of Roland Scholten, Terry Jenkins and Alan Warriner, he beat Colin Lloyd by 3 sets to 1 in the final.
“It was a very special moment for me,” he said. “I had been getting closer and closer and to finally achieve a huge ambition was very satisfying. I hope it turns out to be the first of many.” Well, he didn’t have to wait too long for the next one! At the beginning of April, Hamilton won the UK Open Midlands Regional. He beat James Wade in a high-class final. In May, he enjoyed a great run to the semi-finals of the first ever US Open in Connecticut. Hamilton lost to Raymond Van Barneveld but a cheque for £5,000 wasn’t a bad consolation!
At those last ever Circus Tavern World Championships, Hamilton came very close to setting a new World Championship record for the number of 180s in the tournament. He lost in the semi-finals to Taylor. “I saved my worst performance for the most important match,” he admitted. But Hamilton banged in 46 maximums – just three behind Taylor’s tournament record of 49.
Not bad for someone who gave up competitive darts for nearly 20 years, before deciding to take the plunge – just to see whether he was good enough….well, it seems Hamilton and everyone else in the world of darts has had the answer! ‘The Hammer’ first came to the public eye with a terrific run at the 2006 World Championships. As a qualifier, he reached the last 16, where he was beaten by Phil Taylor – despite a 98 average.
After beating Raymond Van Barneveld in the Blackpool qualifiers, he claimed the scalps of Team Unicorn stars Peter Manley and Adrian Lewis and then beat Wayne Mardle to set up a semi-final showdown against Taylor. It was an epic struggle, which Taylor eventually won 17 legs to 11 after Hamilton missed doubles at crucial times.
He also came within an ace of a magical 9-darter in that semi-final…..just clipping the wire on the final double 12 after eight perfect darts. “That week changed my life,” he admitted. “From that, I secured the sponsorship deal with Unicorn, my bank balance is a lot healthier, I am doing exhibitions, I have turned full-time professional and it’s great that I also have a lot of fans. Hamilton owns the Skylark pub in his native Stoke but not for long. He aims to sell up as soon as possible so there are no distractions for his darts career. “I really believe that the best is yet to come. I am full of confidence and there is no reason why I can’t start winning big tournaments.”
It was the UK Open tournament a few years back that finally convinced Hamilton to give darts a real go on the PDC circuit. He travelled to Scotland and did well in the regional event but did even better in the Players Championship – going all the way to the semi-finals, where he lost to Mark Dudbridge. Hamilton said: “It just gave me the belief and it is amazing to think of what I have achieved since then. I was always a good player but didn’t think that I could hack it at the top level. In hindsight, it was a good decision because if I had taken the plunge when I was 18 or 19 and failed, it may have broken me and I may have packed in darts altogether.”
He started playing as a 16-year-old with Dad Jim and brother Darren at home. By the time he was 18, Hamilton was playing county darts for Cheshire but he didn’t feel confident enough to carry on up the ladder, instead satisfying himself with playing the local leagues around Stoke. But after that 20-year darting sabbatical, Hamilton took the gamble and it has paid off handsomely. “I am really focused now. I have proved that I am not just a one-hit wonder and I am determined to take it to the next level and that means winning tournaments.”
The King Henry VIII look-alike is married to Kate and has three step-children Adam, Sarah and Vicky.
It is surely only a matter of time before it all comes together. He is one of the hardest working players in the world. The rewards are on the way.
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