Kevin Painter and Andy Hamilton have both been handed prized places in the 2012 Premier League.
The Unicorn duo will make their Premier League debuts after being handed the two PDC wildcards for the prestigious tournament!
And Unicorn stablemate Raymond van Barneveld also earns a spot, as does Australian Simon Whitlock – the two Sky Sports wildcard picks.
They will join the top four in the world rankings – Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis, James Wade and Gary Anderson in the 15 week bonanza, which starts at the MEN Arena on February 10 and ends in Final night at the O2 Arena in London on May 17.
But of course it means big disappointment for two other Team Unicorn players….Paul Nicholson and Wes Newton both had high hopes of getting a wildcard into the event.
For Painter, it is reward for winning his first TV ‘Major’ last month, when he was victorious at the Players Championship Finals.
And for Hamilton, it is the perfect end to the best fortnight of his career!
‘The Hammer’ reached the World Championship Final and now this. “I am thrilled!” he said.
“It was a dream to play in a World Championship Final but to be picked to play in the Premier League is a real honour. I’m not sure that I can take it all in at the moment!”
Painter echoed those thoughts!
“I am just delighted to be chosen,” he said. “It meant so much to me to win my first ‘Major’ but to be competing in the prestigious Premier League after all this time is just brilliant and I will do it justice!”
Painter is back in the world’s top 10, while Hamilton’s exploits at the Alexandra Palace have seen him catapult up to No.7 in the world.
He may have lost the World Final to Adrian Lewis on Monday, but he is living the dream!
For Raymond van Barneveld, it is a timely boost to his confidence after his shock exit to James Richardson in the 1st Round of the World Championship….and the fact that he has dropped out of the top eight in the PDC world rankings for the first time.
The 2012 McCoys Premier League is shaping up to be the best ever!
Of course, Team Unicorn star Gary Anderson will defend his title…..Phil Taylor wants it back, James Wade will be desperate to make up for losing that World semi-final and Adrian Lewis will be on a high after winning his second World Championship crown.
But both Hamilton and Painter will believe they can compete and that they have earned the right. They are certainly there on merit after their exploits over the last month.
And we will be hearing from both of them very soon right here on the Unicorn website.
Over 100,000 darts fans will pack the venues all round the UK and Ireland for the Premier League. It is the place to be for all darts players and both Painter and Hamilton have finally achieved their PL goal.
By STUART PYKE
Photos courtesy Lawrence Lustig / PDC