Listen to the articleListen to…
Andreas Harrysson, 50, thrives in the glass factory in Småland.
But the question is how long he will stay.
On Tuesday, the dream can come true for “Dirty Harry”.
Describe the Darts WC in one word
0:17
16 players remain in the World Darts.
One of them is a 50-year-old debutante from Målilla.
– It feels incredible. Weird. Lovely. I’ll see when it sinks in, but I hope it takes a while before it happens, says Andreas Harrysson to Sportbladet.
He is sitting in a cafe in London with a coffee in hand the day before the round of 16.
The biggest match of his career awaits, but “Dirty Harry” is not excited.
– It will be fun. I meet a nice guy and I know how good he is. I know what I have to do, I probably need to step up a bit more for there to be a chance.
You’ve freaked out before.
– Yes, it’s always great to have that feeling with you.
Secured SEK 740,000
A couple of weeks have passed since Harrysson, ranked 114 in the world, entered the stage at Alexandra Palace.
It ended with victory against Ross Smith, ranked twelfth.
Harrysson notices the darts fever that prevails in Sweden.
– It’s actually incredible. I could never have believed that it would be like this, that it would be this big.
After a well-deserved first victory, he cleaned up Sakai from Japan, and most recently he defeated “Pikachu” from Germany.
Harrysson has so far secured 60,000 dollars, equivalent to 740,000 kroner.
What are you going to do with the money?
– Most of it probably goes to darts, to the career.
You’re not going to treat yourself to anything?
– I haven’t thought about that.
Works night shift in a factory
Several of the stars who remain in the competition have hundreds of thousands of followers on social media. The sport’s big poster name, Luke Littler, has millions.
Everyday life looks different for Harrysson who works in a glass factory in Hultsfred alongside darts.
– That’s normal, isn’t it? Before I worked with metal, but now I fix wooden frames for windows. We fix the frames you put the glasses in, you could say.
Night shifts apply.
– Yes, exactly. I have always loved working at night. When the opportunity arose a couple of years ago, I jumped at it.
What is the best thing about the job?
– It’s probably the friends. We are just three people who work at night, and they are two old friends of mine. It’s always nice.
Can become a full-time professional
But the reality may soon change.
If he wins against Clayton, he not only secures a place in the quarter-finals, but also a PDC card. That means a place on the tour where the world’s best players compete.
– It would have been fantastic, very nice.
In practice, he can become a full-time professional.
– There is probably someone on the tour who works, but you are given the chance to play for a better economy. But you also have to succeed on the tour.
Prize money is one factor, sponsors another. It had meant a lot to Harrysson to enter the tour.
– It would be a dream come true in such cases. You are pitted against the best in the world and hopefully develop through it.
Will you stay in the factory then?
– Doubtful… I’ll probably take a longer leave of absence, and see how it goes.
The round of 16 final against Clayton is broadcast on Viaplay and is part of the session that starts at 13.40.
