Andy Hamilton has claimed his first big PDC title with a brilliant performance in the second Players Championship event in Gibraltar. He won an all-Unicorn final – beating Colin Lloyd by 3 sets to 1 to clinch his maiden win and a cheque for £5,000. The Unicorn Contender showed the class that has taken him into the top echelons of world darts.
He was actually two sets and a leg up in the final, before Lloyd came back. Hamilton finally hit double 16 to kick off the celebrations. ‘The Hammer’ had earlier beaten Andy Smith, Roland Scholten, Terry Jenkins and Alan Warriner.
It was a good day for Team Unicorn. Lloyd will be satisfied with his day’s work. He is certainly playing much more like it and the confidence is returning with every tournament.
In a repeat of Saturday’s quarter-final in Gibraltar, Lloyd again took on Adrian Lewis.
In a reversal of fortune, Lloyd won it 3-1 but it was still a memorable 22nd birthday weekend for Lewis, after his run to the final on Saturday.
Peter Manley is returning to form at the start of an important year for ‘One Dart’. A semi-final spot on Saturday and a good run to the quarter-finals this time. But Manley will be disappointed – throwing away a 2-1 lead to lose 3-2 to the talented Colin Osborne.
Also in the tournament, Adrian Lewis beat Team Unicorn stablemate Wes Newton in the last 16, while John Part lost at the same stage to Dutch teenage sensation Michael Van Gerwen.
Van Gerwen had earlier demolished Saturday’s Gibraltar winner and World Champion Raymond Van Barneveld 3-0. Barney won only one leg in the match.
Results:
Quarter-Finals:
Colin Lloyd 3-1 Adrian Lewis
Losers - £600
Semi-Finals:
Colin Lloyd 3-1 Colin Osborne
Losers - £1,250
Andy Hamilton 3-1 Colin Lloyd
Winner - £5,000
BY STUART PYKE
