Fermanagh's Brendan Dolan has been an ever present figure at the top end of darts for 15 years and is showing no signs of fading away after winning another PDC title.
Now 50-years-old, Dolan is eligible for the World Senior Darts Tour but still finds himself beating the best the sport has to offer and added a ninth career title to his legacy at Players Championship 10.
The event, which saw 128 Tour Card holders battle it out for the title, featured a strong field with former world champions Michael van Gerwen and Peter Wright in action, but it was Dolan who took the prize.
The win was the first for Dolan, who formerly worked as a painter/decorator, in two years; although his form has been impressive during that period.
DOLAN TAKES THE TITLE! 🏆
It's glory at #PC10 for Brendan Dolan who defeats first time finalist Jeffrey de Graaf 8-4 to win the title here in Hildesheim!
Brendan becomes the tenth different winner from ten events so far on the ProTour this year! pic.twitter.com/OGBxgunACM— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) May 7, 2024
He reached the quarter-finals of the World Championship in January, a massive feat considering the rise in the standard of the sport as a whole in recent seasons.
That increased standard has seen greats like two-time world champion Adrian Lewis plummet down the rankings, yet Dolan has managed to stem the tide.
The likes of Luke Littler and Luke Humphries have taken darts to a new level, but the soft-spoken Dolan has more than coped with their rise and he detailed how after his latest success on the PDC Tour.
Brendan Dolan gives brilliant interview after PDC Pro Tour win
The former major finalist spoke to the PDC after his 8-4 defeat of Jeffrey De Graaf in the final, revealing the secret to his longevity and issued a warning to the new breed of talent in typically humble fashion.
It is the young lads coming in," Dolan said.
"It is unbelievable to see the talent that is coming through.
"I know they haven't a care in the world and maybe us older people do, looking after our families and everything like that.
"It has actually rejuvenated me seeing these young lads coming in.
"I just want to say, you may be better than me but you are not going to push me out! You know that kind of way?"
🗣️ "There's so much more I want to achieve in the game"
Hear from #PC10 champion Brendan Dolan after his triumph in Hildesheim saw him win his tenth ProTour title! pic.twitter.com/JxqFQwB6mi— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) May 7, 2024
The world number 27 still has big ambitions in the sport, sharing his belief that he can yet win a major event while also eyeing up a maiden stage title on the European Tour.
“There is still plenty left for me to achieve. I’ve been playing at this level for 20 years, and I would still love to be world number one. It may never happen, but I’ll keep trying!
“I would also love to win a TV title and a European Tour event; I haven't done either of them so that will be my ambition going forward!
"Maybe to be a pest for everyone else! I think that is what I want to be."
Dolan looks set to qualify for the World Matchplay - the second biggest PDC event - in July, as a result of his latest success on the Tour and is sure to be a 'pest' for whatever seed he draws in round one.
He famously dispatched of Van Gerwen in the opening round of the 2023 tournament and would go on to beat Gerwyn Price and Gary Anderson at the World Championship last winter.
It looks like the evergreen Dolan will still be here for the long term and we are here for it.
