Andy Boulton

Andy Boulton (born 25 February 1973) is a Scottish professional darts player who plays in events of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). He is nicknamed X-Factor.

Andy Boulton
Personal information
Full nameAndrew Boulton
Nickname"X-Factor"
Born (1973-02-25) 25 February 1973 (age 51)
Stoke-On-Trent, England
Home townArdrossan, Scotland
Darts information
Playing darts since1991
Darts21 Gram Showtime
LateralityRight-handed
Walk-on music"Juicy Wiggle" by Redfoo
Organisation (see split in darts)
BDO2004–2015
PDC2015–
(Tour Card: 2015-2017, 2019-2022)
Current world ranking127 Increase 26 (3 July 2024)[1]
WDF major events – best performances
World Ch'shipLast 16: 2008
World MastersLast 16: 2006
Finder MastersLast 24 Group: 2008
PDC premier events – best performances
World Ch'shipLast 64: 2016, 2021
UK OpenLast 16: 2011
Grand SlamGroup Stage: 2015
PC FinalsLast 32: 2020, 2021
Other tournament wins
Airdrie European Open2010
Granite City Open2009
North Lanarkshire Open2008
PDC Challenge Tour2023 (x2), 2024 (x2),
Scotland National Championships2011
Tyne & Wear Open2011

Career

Boulton made his televised debut in the PDC UK Open in 2005 starting at the preliminary round and reaching the third round, beating players such as Sergio Bongiovanni. He was drawn against rising star Colin Osborne and lost 5-1.

Boulton played in the 2006 Winmau World Masters, beating three previous opponents before defeating Tony O'Shea in the last 32 stage. He eventually lost to Martin Adams in the last 16. He then played at the 2008 BDO World Darts Championship, causing a big upset in the first round beating Martin Atkins before losing to Ted Hankey in the second round.

In March 2008 Boulton won the unranked North Lanarkshire Open beating Robert Thornton in the final.

Boulton qualified for the 2009 UK Open as a pub qualifier. Beating Darren Latham 6-5 in the first round he lost 6-4 to Wes Newton in the second round. Later that year he claimed the Granite City Open title in Aberdeen by beating former world champion John Walton in the final.

Boulton was a stand-by qualifier for the 2011 BDO World Championship and progressed to the first round as Martin Adams was already assured of a place at the Lakeside had won the Winmau World Masters. Boulton was defeated in the first round 3-0 by Robbie Green.

In 2011 Boulton won the Scotland National Championship and again qualified for the UK Open.[2]

Boulton crossed over to the PDC in 2015 through the Q School Order of Merit with 20 points. He also qualified for the German Masters.

The X Factor is currently sponsored by Showtime Darts who helped to design and manufacture his new signature darts.

Boulton won a two-year PDC Tour Card at UK Q-School in January 2019 via the Order of Merit.

Boulton switched his allegiance from England to Scotland on residency grounds after previously living in England for many years.[3]

Private life

Boulton has three children – Lloyd, Ebony and Bailey.[4]

World Championship performances

BDO

PDC

Performance timeline

Tournament20052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
PDC Ranked televised events
PDC World ChampionshipBDO1RDid not qualify1R2RDNQ
UK OpenPrel.Did not qualify2RDNQ5RDNQ3R3R2R3RDNQ3R5R4R4RDNQ1R
Grand Slam of DartsDid not qualifyRRDid not qualify
Players Championship FinalsDid not qualify1RDNQ1R2R2RDNQ
BDO Ranked televised events
BDO World ChampionshipDNP2RDNQ1R1RDNQPDCNHPDC
Winmau World MastersDNP5RDNP3R4R4R4R5R4R5RPDCNHPDC
Finder Darts MastersDNPNHDNPRRDNPPDCNH
Career statistics
Year-end ranking----------72586210481515682107

PDC European Tour

Season12345678910111213
2015GDC
2R
GDT
DNQ
GDM
1R
DDM
DNQ
IDO
DNQ
EDO
DNQ
EDT
DNQ
EDM
DNQ
EDG
DNQ
2016DDM
DNQ
GDM
DNQ
GDT
DNQ
EDM
DNQ
ADO
DNQ
EDO
2R
IDO
1R
EDT
1R
EDG
1R
GDC
1R
2017GDC
DNQ
GDM
DNQ
GDO
DNQ
EDG
DNQ
GDT
DNQ
EDM
DNQ
ADO
DNQ
EDO
DNQ
DDM
DNQ
GDG
1R
IDO
DNQ
EDT
QF
2018EDO
DNQ
GDG
DNQ
GDO
DNQ
ADO
DNQ
EDG
1R
DDM
DNQ
GDT
3R
DDO
DNQ
EDM
SF
GDC
1R
DDC
1R
IDO
DNQ
EDT
DNQ
2019EDO
DNQ
GDC
2R
GDG
DNQ
GDO
DNQ
ADO
DNQ
EDG
DNQ
DDM
1R
DDO
DNQ
CDO
DNQ
ADC
DNQ
EDM
DNQ
IDO
1R
GDT
DNQ
2020BDC
1R
GDC
DNQ
EDG
DNQ
IDO
DNQ
2021HDT
DNQ
GDT
DNQ
2022IDO
1R
GDC
DNQ
GDG
DNQ
ADO
DNQ
EDO
DNQ
CDO
DNQ
EDG
DNQ
DDC
1R
EDM
DNQ
HDT
DNQ
GDO
DNQ
BDO
DNQ
GDT
DNQ
2023BSD
DNQ
EDO
2R
IDO
1R
GDG
1R
ADO
DNQ
DDC
1R
BDO
DNP
CDO
DNQ
EDG
DNP
EDM
DNP
GDO
DNP
HDT
1R
GDC
DNQ
Performance Table Legend
WWon the tournamentFFinalistSFSemifinalistQFQuarterfinalist#R
RR
Prel.
Lost in # round
Round-robin
Preliminary round
DQDisqualified
DNQDid not qualifyDNPDid not participateWDWithdrewNHTournament not heldNYFNot yet founded

References