Richie Howson claims World Seniors Champion of Champions crown

Richie Howson ended his wait for a first televised title at the 2024 World Seniors Champion of Champions with a 13-10 victory over Andy Hamilton in the final.

Howson had suffered defeat in three televised finals last year but finally entered the winner’s circle following a series of superb displays in Blackpool.

The 58-year-old, who qualified for the event via the WSDT Order of Merit after Lisa Ashton declined her invitation, battled back from 8-6 down to win seven of the last nine legs in a hard-fought final.

Having thrashed defending champion Leonard Gates 10-2 on Saturday in a repeat of the 2023 final, Howson then sealed his spot in the final with a 13-11 victory over Martin Adams on Sunday afternoon.

The Essex ace made a slow start to the final, gifting Hamilton a 3-0 lead before taking out 86 on the bull to close the gap to 3-2.

Howson hit the front for the first time at 5-4 courtesy of a 14-darter in leg nine, but only for Hamilton to clinch four of the next five legs to make it 8-6.

Howson hit back with another 14-darter en route to levelling the contest at eight-all, and but after Hamilton nudge back in front, ‘The Owl’ took control of the tie courtesy of a run of four straight legs.

Hamilton stopped the rot in leg 22 to keep his hopes alive, but Howson closed out the match in style with a clinical 13-darter on double eight.

“This has been a while coming,” admitted Howson. “I really thought I could win one of these, but until you actually do, you don’t know.

“I’m just absolutely over the moon.

“Andy is a fighter like you’ve never played before up there. He just does not let you go. I don’t know how I managed to nick a couple of legs at the end there.

“I’m just so grateful that I’ve finally won one. It means everything. All that I’ve been doing for the last three years on the Seniors tour has been working up towards winning one of these.

“I’ve put in a lot of hard work and it’s finally paid off.”

Hamilton, who came through the final Golden Ticket qualifier to earn his debut in the event, fell narrowly short of a first televised title of his own.

“I came up short in the final, the best player won on the night,” reflected Hamilton.

“I’ve tried my hardest, it wasn’t my night but I’ll be back again. The Hammer always comes back.

“I’m playing great darts, I’m competitive, I hate losing without a doubt, I’m just disappointed I didn’t play my best game in the final but I’ll move on from this and get better.”

The former PDC world finalist defeated reigning World Seniors champion John Henderson 10-8 in the quarter-finals, before firing in seven 180s and a high checkout of 144 in a 13-11 success over Richard-Eirig Rowlands in the semi-finals.

World Seniors Champion of Champions 2024 Schedule

Sunday March 24

Semi-Finals
Richie Howson 13-11 Martin Adams
Andy Hamilton 13-11 Richard-Eirig Rowlands

Final
Richie Howson 13-10 Andy Hamilton

BetMGM Sign Up Offer | Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets

• Welcome Bonus

Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets

• In-Play Betting
• Live Streaming
• Mobile App
• Variety Of Sports

Excellent Review

10.0 Our Score

Claim Offer

New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 football, 1 x £10 horse racing & 2 x £10 Bet Builders. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.

Bet365 Sign Up Offer | Bet £10 Get £50 in Free Bets

• Welcome Bonus

Bet £10 Get £50 in Free Bets

• In-Play Betting
• Live Streaming
• Mobile App
• Variety Of Sports

Excellent Review

10.0 Our Score

Claim Offer

18+. New customers only. Sign up, deposit £5-£10 and Bet365 will give you 5x that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to same value and they are settled. Free Bets paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet & payment method exclusions apply. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply. Registration required. Gambleaware.org

Sky Bet Sign Up Offer | Bet 5p Get £40 in Free Bets

• Welcome Bonus

Bet 5p Get £40 in Free Bets

• In-Play Betting
• Live Streaming
• Mobile App
• Variety Of Sports
• VIP Club

Excellent Review

10.0 Our Score

Claim Offer

New customers only. First single or E/W bet only. Odds of 1/1 or greater. 4x £10 Bet Tokens. Free Bet Stakes not included in returns. Free Bets exclude virtuals and are non-withdrawable. Eligibility restrictions and further T&Cs apply. 18+ Gambleaware.org

EasyBet Sign Up Offer: Bet £20 Get £20 in Free Bets

• Welcome Bonus

Bet £20 Get £20 in Free Bets

• In-Play Betting
• Mobile App
• Variety Of Sports

Excellent Review

9.0 Our Score

Claim Offer

New customers only. To qualify for free bets, the new user must place and settle £20 on easyBet markets. The user must bet on at least 2 different events to qualify. The user must place and settle bets at odds of 2.0 or more. An event is classed as two different sporting events. Bets can be placed on singles, multiples and Bet Builders. The user must place and settle bets before the closing date of the promotion to qualify. T&Cs Apply. Be Gamble Aware. 18+

Paddy Power Sign Up Offer: Bet £5 Get £30 in Free Bets

• Welcome Bonus

Bet £5 Get £30 in Free Bets

• In-Play Betting
• Live Streaming
• Mobile App
• Variety Of Sports

Excellent Review

10.0 Our Score

Claim Offer

New Customer offer - Use promo code YSKAST. Place a min £5 bet on the sportsbook at odds of min EVS (2.0) and get £30 in free bets. Free bet rewards valid for 30 days. Only deposits via Debit Cards & Apple Pay will qualify for this offer. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly

CopyBet Sign Up Offer | Bet £20 Get £60 in Free Bets

• Welcome Bonus

Bet £20 Get £60 in Free Bets

• In-Play Betting
• Mobile App
• Variety Of Sports

Excellent Review

10.0 Our Score

Claim Offer

New UK customers only. The qualifying bet should be either a Single or Acca (2+ selections) bet, start at £20, have 1.9 or greater odds and must be settled within 7 days of opt-in. 3 Free bets include: 1 x £20 Free bet Racing (Horse Racing or Greyhound Racing); 1 x £20 Free Bet Live Football; 1 x £20 Free Bet Live. Max payout – £500. 7-day expiry. To unlock the offer, complete the first deposit via the banking app (Open banking). 18+. GambleAware.org

Betano Sign Up Offer | Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets

• Welcome Bonus

Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets

• In-Play Betting
• Mobile App
• Variety Of Sports

Excellent Review

10.0 Our Score

Claim Offer

18+ New Customers Only. Opt in and bet £10 (odds 2.00+) within 3 days of sign up. No cash-out. Get 3x£10 Free Bets for set markets (odds 2.0+) which expire in 5 days. Scroll down for T&Cs. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly

PricedUp Bet Sign Up Offer: Bet £50 Get a £20 Free Bet Bet £50 Get £20 in Free Bets

• In-Play Betting
• Mobile App
• Variety Of Sports

Excellent Review

9.0 Our Score

Claim Offer

#AD 18+ New UK Customers Only. Use promo code bet50get20 and make a mini deposit of £50, place a min £50 bet within 24hrs of signup on any selection min odds of Evens (2.00) and receive a £20 free bet upon bet settlement. Cashed Out/void bets & Build-a-Bet do not qualify for this promo,  e/w bets must be £50 each-way (£100 total stake). Free bet expires after 7 days. Full T&Cs apply.

talkSPORT BET sign up offer | Bet £10 Get £30 in Darts Free Bets

• Welcome Bonus

Bet £10 Get £30 in Darts Free Bets

• In-Play Betting
• Mobile App
• Variety Of Sports

Excellent Review

10.0 Our Score

Claim Offer

18+ New Customers Only. Opt in, bet £10+ on any darts at odds of 2.00+ within 7 days. Get 3x£10 in Free Bets for set markets which expire in 7 days. Scroll down for T&Cs. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly

Betfred sign up offer | Bet £10 Get £50 in Free Bets

• Welcome Bonus

Bet £10 Get £50 in Free Bets

• In-Play Betting
• Mobile App
• Variety Of Sports

Excellent Review

10.0 Our Score

Claim Here

New customers only. Register with SUMMER50. Deposit £10+ and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. Full T&Cs apply.

BetUK Sign Up Offer | Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets

• Welcome Bonus

Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets

• In-Play Betting
• Mobile App
• Variety Of Sports

Excellent Review

9.0 Our Score

Claim Offer

New cust only. Deposit & Place a Bet within 7 days, and settle a £10 minimum bet at odds of 4/5 (1.8) or greater, to be credited with 3x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 Horse Racing, 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder and 1 x £10 Football. 7 day expiry. Stake not returned. T&Cs Apply. Acca Club: T&Cs Apply. Promo runs Mon 09:00 to Sun 23:59. Opt-in required. 50% profit boost on 7+ Acca selections. Max stake £20. Max winnings £1,000. Up to 5 boosts per customer per week. Exclusions apply.18+ GambleAware.org

Parimatch Sign Up Offer: Bet £10 Get £30 in Bonuses

• Welcome Bonus

Bet £10 Get £30 in Bonuses

• In-Play Betting
• Mobile App
• Variety Of Sports

Excellent Review

10.0 Our Score

Claim Offer

18+ New customers only. Opt in and bet £5 on football (odds 2.00+) within 7 days of registration. No cash out. Get 2x£10 Free Bets for set EPL markets and a £10 Slot Bonus for Big Bass Splash, 20x wagering to redeem £250. Bonuses expire in 14 days. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly 

Boylesports Sign Up Offer | Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets + £10 Casino Bonus

• Welcome Bonus

Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets + £10 Casino Bonus

• In-Play Betting
• Live Streaming
• Mobile App
• Variety Of Sports

Excellent Review

9.0 Our Score

Claim Offer

18+. New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. £40 in FREE Bets (FB) as £30 in sports bets & a £10 casino bonus (CB). Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. FB applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. FB 7-day expiry. 1 FB offer per customer, household & IP address only. Account & Payment restrictions. 14 days to accept £10 CB, then active for 3 days. CB 5x wagering & max redeemable £100. Game restrictions apply. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. 30 days to qualify. T&Cs apply.

AK Bets Sign Up Offer | 25% boost on any sport accumulator 25% boost on any sport accumulator

• In-Play Betting
• Live Streaming
• Mobile App
• Variety Of Sports
• VIP Club

Excellent Review

10.0 Our Score

Claim Offer

If your first bet is a Treble or Up on Any Sport (minimum 3 selections) AK Bets will boost the profit gained on that initial bet by 25% in the form of a Free Bet up to a value of £100. Applies to new customers who sign up to AK BETS with the promo code AKACCA100. 18+ GambleAware.org

BetGoodwin Sign Up Offer | 50% back as a free bet up to £25 on first day losses

• Welcome Bonus

BetGoodwin Sign Up Offer – 50% back as a free bet up to £25 on first day losses

• In-Play Betting
• Variety Of Sports

Excellent Review

10.0 Our Score

Claim Offer

18+ only. Register a new online account with Betgoodwin. Must have a minimum of 3 bets of £10 or more on separate events at odds of evens (2.0) or bigger on first day. First day losses equals all settled stakes less all returns. The day finishes at 23:59 on day of registration. Free bets must be used in their entirety and stakes are deducted from returns. Free bets non withdrawable Free bets to be credited within 24 hours. This offer can not be used in conjunction with any other Betgoodwin promotion. If your free bet is subsequently voided it will be replaced within 24 hours. Cashed out bets do not count towards this offer. This offer is limited to a free bet award per person/household/IP address. Betgoodwin reserves the right to withdraw or terminate this offer only once the full duration of the promotion has been completed. Full Terms and Conditions apply.

Unibet Sign Up Offer – Up to £40 back as bonus if your first bet loses

• Welcome Bonus

Bet £10, Get £40

• In-Play Betting
• Mobile App
• Variety Of Sports

Very Good Review

8.0 Our Score

Claim Offer

18+. GambleAware.org. New customers only. Min Dep £10. Debit cards only. Opt in for bonus funds. Wagering, sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 50x. Sports bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Valid for 7 days. Geographical Restrictions and T&Cs Apply.

NRG Sports Sign Up Offer | Bet £20 Get a £10 Free Bet

• Welcome Bonus

Bet £20 Get a £10 Free Bet

• In-Play Betting
• Mobile App
• Variety Of Sports

Excellent Review

9.0 Our Score

Claim Offer

#AD 18+ New UK Customers Only. Sign Up using Promo Code b20g10 and make a min deposit of £20 then place a min £20 bet with min odds of Evens (2.00) and get a £10 free bet upon bet settlement. Free bet expires 7 days from date and time of issue. Cashed Out or void bets do not qualify for this promotion. Build a bets do not qualify. If your first bet fails to qualify, you will not receive the free bet. Full T&Cs apply.

Fafabet Sign Up Offer | Up to £50 Free Bet + £20 Casino Bonus

• Welcome Bonus

Up to £50 Free Bet + £20 Casino Bonus

• In-Play Betting
• Mobile App
• Variety Of Sports

Very Good Review

8.0 Our Score

Claim Offer

18+. T&Cs Apply. GambleAware.org