Martin Adams is one of the most recognisable names in English darts and a cornerstone personality of the BDO era. Best known by his moniker “Wolfie,” Adams forged a solid career based on consistency and experience, along with an inimitable presence at the oche. A resident of Sutton, London, he was a three-time BDO World Champion and a three-time champion of the World Masters. He later competed on the WDF Tour, enjoyed a brief stint on the PDC circuit, and then went on to compete in numerous events throughout his long association with world seniors darts.
Adams was much more closely aligned with the BDO, unlike many stars who moved permanently to join the PDC in darts’ major split. His history at Lakeside, the length of his tenure as England captain, and his endurance in the sport have ensconced him in the darts annals. In this article, we will also read about Martin Adams darts, nickname, wife, net worth, and more.
Who Is Martin Adams?
Martin Adams is an English professional darts player who gained recognition after the split period in darts and became an important part of the British Darts Organisation (BDO) and then the World Darts Federation (WDF). He is known by his nickname “Wolfie” and is famous for winning three BDO World Championships (2007, 2010, and 2011), three World Masters trophies, and setting a record of 25 consecutive participations in Lakeside World Championship from 1994 to 2018. Not only an excellent player, Adams is also the longest captain in the history of the England national darts team (from 1993 till 2013).
Quick Bio: Martin Adams
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Martin Adams |
| Nickname | Wolfie |
| Date of Birth | 4 June 1956 |
| Place of Birth | Sutton, Surrey, England |
| Age (as of 2026) | 70 years |
| Nationality | British |
| Residence | Deeping St James, Lincolnshire, England |
| Professional Since | 1992 |
| Career Span | 1981–present (competitive) |
| Organization | BDO / WDF |
| England Captaincy | 1993–2013 (20 years) |
| BDO World Titles | 3 (2007, 2010, 2011) |
| World Masters Titles | 3 (2008, 2009, 2010) |
| Major Titles | 12 |
| Career Titles | 79+ |
| World Championship Appearances | 25 consecutive (1994–2018) |
| Nine-Dart Finishes | 5 |
| Career Prize Money | £770,297 |
| Three-Dart Average | 91.80 |
| Winning Percentage | 69.02% (597 wins from 865 games) |
| Walk-on Song | “Hungry Like the Wolf” – Duran Duran |
| Darts Used | 22g Datadart M3 |
| Sponsor | Datadart, Lakeside International Hotel |
| Current Activity (2026) | Competing on World Seniors Darts Tour |
| Notable Achievement | Won World Seniors Champion of Champions (2025) |
Martin Adams Early Life and Background
Martin Adams got started playing darts in pubs as a teenager from Sutton, Surrey, and quickly built up his reputation for being steady but, most importantly, accurate. Before becoming unemployed, he was a Lloyds Bank employee; it was at that time that he became professional (1992) with encouragement from five-time world champion Eric Bristow. Adams became a member of the BDO in 1982 and has been affiliated with them ever since, even working under their auspices during traumatic years following the breakaway that formed the PDC after 1993.
Martin Adams Age and Date of Birth
Martin Adams was born on June 4, 1956, in Sutton, Surrey, England. In 2026, he will be 70 years old. Nonetheless, he has been participating in various tournaments and performing very well, including the World Seniors Darts Tour, where he won the Champion of Champions trophy in 2025.
Martin Adams Darts Career
Adams’ darts career as a professional commenced in 1992; he has been participating in various tournaments organized by the BDO since the early 1980s. His breakthrough came in 1994 when he became the champion of the British Open Singles. This was the first in a series of Open titles he managed to win across Europe. He made his world championship debut in 1994 when Adams participated in the BDO World Championship for the first time after the split with the PDC.
Despite having briefly participated in several PDC televised tournaments (in 2000 and 2001, where Adams reached the finals of the World Matchplay in 2001), Adams chose to be loyal to the BDO after the change of rules and refused lucrative offers from the PDC.
Martin Adams Major Achievements and Titles
Some of the most prestigious titles that are collected in Martin Adams’ trophy case include the following:
- BDO World Championship: Champion (2007, 2010, 2011)
- World Masters: Champion (2008, 2009, 2010)
- Zuiderduin Masters: Champion (1996, 2000)
- WDF World Cup Singles: Champion (1995, 2001)
- WDF Europe Cup: Champion (1996)
- British Open Singles: Multiple Champion (1994-2004)
- British Pentathlon Champion: Multiple Champion (2004-2019)
- Dutch Open Pairs Champion: Multiple Champion (1994-2016)
In total, Adams has won over 90 titles worldwide, including 12 major titles and 79 career titles, according to darts databases.
Martin Adams World Championship Success
The story of Adams competing for the World Championship is full of patience. He had been close before 2007 but ultimately triumphed when he beat Phil Nixon 7-6 in a thrilling final which featured an iconic 6-0, 6-6 score. Adams won his third and fourth title at Lakeside in 2010 and 2011, joining only a few players who have won three or more BDO World Championships. He also holds the record of 25 straight appearances at Lakeside from 1994 to 2018.
Martin Adams Playing Style and Nickname
Nicknamed “Wolfie,” Adams got the nickname due to his wolf-like beard and the entrance music, which was “Hungry Like the Wolf” by Duran Duran. The playing style of Adams is greatly appreciated because of the precision, control, and repeatability of the throws. Phil Taylor called Adam’s throw “one of the most beautiful ways in darts,” highlighting his skills of scoring and finishing when pressure increases. Often, Adams refers to his playing style as “pub darts.”
Martin Adams Career Statistics and Records
As per the darts databases, Adams possesses:
- Career Prize Money: £770,297
- Major Titles: 12
- Career Titles: 79
- Nine-Dart Finishes: 5
- Games W: 597 of the 865 played
- Winning Percentage: 69.02%
- Three-Dart Average: 91.80
Among his most famous records is that he made 25 consecutive World Championship appearances and captained England for the best part of two decades.
Martin Adams PDC and BDO Career
Adams is perhaps most renowned for his loyalty to the BDO when more financial advantages were available through the PDC. In 2000 and 2001, he participated in three major PDC televised events (his finish as the losing finalist at the World Matchplay in 2001) before opting against a permanent switch when eligibility rules were revised by the PDC. When the BDO folded in 2020, he briefly returned to PDC events in 2015 but was otherwise a BDO/WDF competitor. Now, he competes under the WDF banner and on the World Seniors Darts Tour.
Martin Adams Walk-on Song
The most famous walk-on song used by Martin Adams is the “Hungry Like the Wolf” track by Duran Duran. It goes well with his nickname “Wolfie” as well as his character, which is based on a wolf. The walk-on is among the most recognizable in darts.
Martin Adams Net Worth and Earnings
Exact figures are difficult to say, but Martin Adams is said to have a sizeable net worth, highly likely larger than current PDC stars such as Michael van Gerwen due to the length of his career and number of titles won. In career prize money alone, he has earned in excess of £770,000, and income streams from sponsorship deals (such as Datadart & Lakeside International Hotel), appearances, and senior tour events have all added to his fortune. Adams, unlike many of the PDC players, had better overall job security due to him being captain for England and his role in BDO administration.
Martin Adams Personal Life and Family
Adams has kept most of it quiet, although he was married to a woman named Sharon. He lives in Deeping St James, Lincolnshire, having formerly lived at Sutton-in-the-Isle, Cambridgeshire. He spoke about how much he appreciated domesticity in interviews, doing household chores and taking care of his pets during some downtime.
Martin Adams Wife and Marriage
Martin Adams has always been private about his personal life. He was married to his previous wife, Sharon Adams, with whom he shared a marital relationship for around 34 years before they separated in the year of 2013. Sharon was a huge support to him behind the scenes during his darts career. Later still, Adams dated Leigh, who stayed in his life until her death in 2023. While Martin Adams’ relationships have been covered in the press to some extent, he largely remains a well-protected man away from his darts career.
Does Martin Adams have children?
There are no publicly available facts on whether Martin Adams has any Children. In interviews or on his official website, he has never spoken about children.
What Is Martin Adams Doing Now?
In 2026, Adams was still an active competitor in the darts world and mostly took part on the World Seniors Darts Tour. He remained a top competitor well into his late 60s, winning the World Seniors Champion of Champions title in 2025. He also remains active in darts and can be seen playing exhibition matches (and senior tournaments like the World Seniors Darts Matchplay).
Martin Adams Legacy in Darts
Martin Adams will be best remembered for his love, loyalty and longevity in darts. Regarded by many as the best BDO player of all time, post-split era, no one has more world titles after turning 50 nor been top flight for over three decades. He also holds the record for most consecutive World Championship appearances, and his 20 years leading the England team is a testament to his consistency and leadership ability. Despite the possibility of earning more, Adams’ pledge to stay with BDO makes him a bastion of integrity and loyalty to his sport’s foundations. Phil Taylor and other legends of the game have praised his technical ability and fighting spirit since, with Taylor insisting: “He would be a multi-millionaire if he had committed full time to PDC”.
Conclusion
Martin Adams is nicknamed “Wolfie,” and he can be considered one of the top players in history for BDO darts. He was born in Sutton, Surrey, and had an incredible career spanning over three BDO World Championship wins, three World Masters titles & four Dutch Open victories, plus a lengthy tenure as captain for England.
The most successful phase of his career was the world titles in 2007, 2010 and 2011; however, he also has a not unremarkable PDC experience as well as appearing successfully on the senior-darts scene, indicating just how long it has been since this fountain of darting talent made an appearance.
While figures on Martin Adams’ net worth and elements of his family life are not available with any degree of reliability, we can turn to the world of sport for some clarity. Wolfie is as big a name in darts history thanks to his blend of consistency, character, and longevity with those titles.
FAQ’s
Who is Martin Adams?
Martin Adams is one of the most recognisable names in English darts and a cornerstone personality of the BDO era.
What is Martin Adams nickname?
His nickname is “Wolfie,” inspired by his beard and his walk-on song, “Hungry Like the Wolf.”
How old is Martin Adams?
Martin Adams is 70 years old as of 2026.
Who was Martin Adams wife?
He was married to his previous wife, Sharon Adams, with whom he shared a marital relationship for around 34 years before they separated in the year of 2013.
What is Martin Adams’ walk-on song?
His walk-on song is “Hungry Like the Wolf” by Duran Duran.
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