ANDY HAMILTON has targeted a place in the 2008 Holsten Premier League Darts, after picking up his second PDC Pro Tour title.
Hamilton won the Blue Square UK Open Midlands Regional Final with a 2-0 defeat of James Wade on Sunday to pick up a £5,000 winner's cheque for the second time in 2007.
The title followed his victory in the StanJames.com Players Championship in January, when he defeated Colin Lloyd in the final.
The win will push Hamilton up to tenth in the PDC Order of Merit, confirming his place in the Topic International Darts League next month.
He is also currently in the automatic qualifying places for the Las Vegas Desert Classic, but is looking to break into the world's top six by the SkyBet World Grand Prix in October - when the first Premier League players are named.
"I'm going in the right direction and I want to keep going forward," said Hamilton.
"There is that comfort zone, with the top 12 qualifying for Las Vegas and the IDL, but when you are in that 12th spot there is always the thought that you could drop down a couple of places.
"I'm looking to get into the Premier League for next year, that's my ambition.
"I've been to a few of the events this year and it is a massive buzz. If you can't enjoy it up on that stage you shouldn't be in the game, and I want to be there.
"I'm building my confidence up now and I know I can compete with the best of them. I am proving that - I'd never beaten James Wade before and I knew it was going to be a tough game.
"It probably wasn't the best of finals but I came through it.
"Winning the first one was great and I just hope there are more now. The first one was always going to be the hardest and once you've won one they will hopefully come in loads."
Hamilton only revealed after his win that he had been suffering from illness in the build-up to the eighth and final Regional Final.
"It was really hard," he said. "I've had an ear infection since last Tuesday and wasn't feeling too good.
"I've not been sleeping well and was up at 3am on Sunday morning, but I just thought it was going to be my weekend.
"It went for me and it's absolutely brilliant."
Click here to read our previous article - Hamilton Wins Midlands Regional Final