Andrew Gilding – “Goldfinger” and UK Open Champion

Andrew Gilding, better known by his nickname “Goldfinger”, has been one of the more experienced players on the PDC Tour for many years. The Englishman is especially known for his calm and controlled throwing style. Another trademark is his thumbs-up celebration after hitting a 180, which has become one of the most recognisable gestures associated with him.

Gilding is a good example of how a player can establish himself among the world’s best without relying on an especially fast or spectacular style of play. With his steady rhythm, strong concentration and reliable finishing, he has repeatedly managed to defeat some of the biggest names in professional darts.

The Road to the PDC Tour

Andrew Gilding competed on various tournament circuits for many years before establishing himself permanently on the professional PDC Tour. He first attracted attention there through consistently strong scoring and impressive performances at Players Championship events.

Over the course of his career, Gilding has qualified for numerous major PDC tournaments and has appeared at events such as the PDC World Darts Championship, the World Matchplay and other major competitions. In doing so, he developed from a relatively understated tour player into an opponent capable of causing an upset against the very best in the world.

His Biggest Achievement: UK Open Champion 2023

Andrew Gilding celebrated the biggest success of his career so far at the 2023 UK Open. At one of the PDC’s most prestigious major tournaments, “Goldfinger” fought his way through to the final, where he faced Michael van Gerwen.

Gilding remained composed in the decisive match and defeated the multiple world champion 11–10 in legs. It was his first PDC major title and one of the biggest surprises of the season. His UK Open victory also introduced Andrew Gilding to a much wider international audience.

This tournament win highlighted one of his greatest strengths: even in close matches and under heavy pressure, his throwing style remains almost unchanged. Gilding plays at his own pace and is rarely affected by the rhythm of his opponent.

Which Darts Does Andrew Gilding Use?

Andrew Gilding plays with his own Cosmo Darts Signature Barrels. His steel-tip model is made from 90% tungsten and features a comparatively short barrel measuring around 41.5 mm in length with a maximum diameter of 7.8 mm. The steel-tip version is available with a 24 g barrel weight.

The distinctive barrel shape differs noticeably from many long and slim modern player darts. Its compact design has a more torpedo-shaped profile with pronounced ring cuts towards the rear. This makes the dart especially interesting for players who prefer a shorter barrel with a clearly defined gripping position.

In keeping with his “Goldfinger” nickname, the signature model also features a striking gold appearance. Cosmo describes the model as an original Gilding design that he has used for many years.

Andrew Gilding and the Cosmo Fit Flight System

Andrew Gilding does not rely on Cosmo Darts only for his barrel. His flight and shaft setup is also based on the Cosmo Fit Flight System.

The Cosmo Fit Flight System consists of flights and shafts specifically designed to work together. The flights are simply pushed onto the compatible Fit Shafts using the push-in system. This removes the need to fit a traditional folded flight onto a standard shaft. At the same time, the system keeps the flights permanently positioned at an exact 90-degree angle.

The official Andrew Gilding steel-tip dart is supplied by Cosmo with components such as a Fit Flight AIR Shape and a Fit Shaft GEAR #3 Slim Spinning. With the spinning version, the flight can rotate if it is contacted by a following dart.

Andrew Gilding Fit Flights

For fans of “Goldfinger”, Cosmo also offers dedicated Andrew Gilding Fit Flights. In addition to classic Fit Flight Shape versions, special Fit Flight Pro models have also been released. These allow players to recreate a setup that is very close to the components used by Andrew Gilding himself.

Players already using the Cosmo Fit Flight System can also experiment with different flight shapes, shaft lengths and shaft versions to adapt the setup to their own throwing style.

A Unique Player with an Unmistakable Style

Andrew Gilding is certainly not one of the loudest or most extroverted players on the PDC Tour. However, it is precisely his calm manner that makes him so distinctive. While other professionals celebrate their success with large gestures, “Goldfinger” often needs little more than a short glance and his familiar thumbs-up.

From a sporting perspective, Gilding also stands for a very controlled approach. His consistent throwing action and wealth of experience make him particularly dangerous in longer matches. Winning the 2023 UK Open demonstrated impressively that he can compete with the best players in the world and win major titles on the biggest stages.

Andrew Gilding Darts, Flights and Accessories

With his Cosmo Signature Darts and the Cosmo Fit Flight/Shaft System, Andrew Gilding uses a setup that differs noticeably from many traditional PDC player darts. The compact barrel and combination with the modular Cosmo system make his equipment particularly interesting.

If you follow Andrew Gilding or would like to try a similar dart setup yourself, you can find the matching Andrew Gilding darts, Fit Flights and Cosmo components here. The Cosmo Fit Flight System also allows compatible flights and shafts to be combined individually.