"I went from literally being washed up and miserable to top of the world": Gilding plans to move out of flat after life-changing UK Open

Andrew Gilding's UK Open win was life changing in more ways than one for the 52-year-old with 'Goldfinger' who has seen a career resurgence in the past 12 months winning £110,000 which will help him move out of his one-bedroom council flat which he has lived in for over 30 years.

"I never really had any money in my life - never," he said as per BBC Sport.

"I went from literally being washed up and miserable to top of the world. What a turnaround. It's unbelievable."

"It depends how much money I can save up, but I have always dreamed of having a full-sized snooker table. But that would be a 'winning the World Championship' thing.

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But for Gilding, it is also prevailing after a period of struggle after having mental health issues throughout his 30's but coming out the other side and discovering darts.

"I had some mental health problems and I started to spend all my time indoors," he said. "I started getting out when I played guitar for a church band.

"Joining the church band got me started mixing with people and then people said I should join a team. I decided to join the local pub team and I suppose that's where it started.

"I don't really want to be a superstar. Just being able to earn a living doing something you don't hate is great. That's the dream. I am living the dream.

"You work hard because you want to, not because you have to. What more can you ask for than that?

"Hopefully I will get used to it. I have got to keep my feet on the ground."

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