Yahoo News Darts drama as Stokie Andy Hamilton left red-faced over premature fist pump
Darts stalwart Andy 'The Hammer' Hamilton faced an awkward moment when he jumped the gun to celebrate an anticipated victory. Andy, from Kidsgrove, was taking on Justin Smith in the Modus Super Series final on Saturday.
With both players steady at 3-3 it was down to a pivotal last leg. Smith failed with three successive attempts to hit the double for the win, which opened a golden opportunity for Hamilton.
The one-time finalist of PDC 2012 World Championship needed a score of 52 to take the match, hitting a solid 20 on his first throw. Left with a target of double 16, Hamilton saw his first effort brushing the wire ever so slightly, and despite another miss millimetres from the target, a crucial visual miscalculation made Hamilton think victory was his.
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In a rather cringe-worthy display, the 57 year old prematurely turned to perform a triumphant fist pump to the crowd before the realisation of what transpired sank in, leading him to return sheepishly to collect his unused darts, reports the Express.
"Andy Hamilton has missed two (chances)," said the commentator. "But he thought it was over. He thought he'd won it. It could be now. It could be Justin Smith that's the victor."
Adding to the moment, the co-commentator quipped: "He's seeing the funny side of it right now. But he might not be smiling in a second, as Justin Smith now gets a third bite."
For Smith, who had previously missed out on two chances at double 16, luck came through when he managed a single on his initial shot and then successfully secured a 4-3 win with a decisive double eight, much to the delight of the 'bearded dragon'.
The official Modus Darts X account didn't hold back in their commentary on Hamilton's match. They posted on social media: "CRAZY END! Hamilton celebrates the win but he *MISSED*! ? ! ".
Based in Portsmouth, the Modus Super Series not only hosts events locally but also across the UK, featuring darts legends such as Phil Taylor and Michael Smith in special appearances over recent years.
Modus has been praised for giving players like Hamilton, who reached the semi-finals of the Premier League in 2012 and was a World Matchplay semi-finalist in both 2006 and 2011, opportunities to make a comeback on the PDC circuit. 'The Hammer' has been using these platforms to reignite his career.
