World Darts Championship: Gary Anderson prepared to point out expertise pays – ‘I am averaging greater than all of them’

A number of darts followers will head to Ally Pally targeted on the gifted kids coming by means of the ranks, however Gary Anderson is intent on exhibiting he’s nonetheless a greater participant than them.

Two-time world champion Anderson has been in sensational type of late after rediscovering his love for darts, making it to the semi-finals of the Grand Slam the place he misplaced to Luke Littler in an all-time traditional match.

Now, the 53-year-old will flip his focus to a stage on which he has had a lot success – Alexandra Palace – as he will get able to face both Jeffrey de Graaf or Rashad Sweeting within the second spherical.

Whereas the ‘Flying Scotsman’ is a family title for darts aficionados, consideration these days has been on the likes of Littler, Gian van Veen and Mike De Decker developing by means of the ranks and inflicting a stir.

Anderson, although, is quietly assured that, within the largest event of all of them, expertise will all the time pay. Plus, a mean that beats the rising stars additionally helps!

“Yeah, it’s getting better. But at the same stage, what I try to tell people is the old guys are still playing well,” Anderson mentioned.

“I am nonetheless averaging in all probability greater than all of them put collectively. So, sure, they have youth on their facet, which to us boys is a bit downgrading as a result of we need to be younger once more, however they have an important future in entrance of them.

“Darts is going to be very good in the next four to five, six years.”

Though Anderson is completely satisfied to see so many new gamers get a lot success, he does keep a fear that the game is their sole earner.

Certainly, he would push for them to have a “safety net” to fall again on attributable to darts’ unpredictable nature.

“It is great for youngsters, they come straight out of school, they’re making so much money, fantastic, absolutely fantastic. But if anything goes wrong, they’ve never got a trade to go to,” he mentioned.

“If something happened, they couldn’t throw darts, they’ve got dartitis, can’t play darts ever again, what are they going to do? They’ve left school, they’ve done darts for four or five years, they’re now stuck, there’s not a lot out there.

“I’ve all the time mentioned, get a commerce, have one thing behind you you could fall onto. It is there for a security web.”

‘I’ve not executed too unhealthy’: Ando reminisces on Worlds glory

Anderson is in an elite group of gamers who’ve gone back-to-back on the Worlds, simply Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis becoming a member of him in that feat.

Out of his two wins, beating the most effective participant of all time in Taylor is his spotlight, however he does admit he turned up in 2017 wanting the hat-trick and was upset to lose within the closing to Michael van Gerwen.

“Well, it’s winning it twice, you know, but I’ve been in five finals,” Anderson mentioned.

“Out of the two, it would have to be playing Phil. You know Phil, the legend that he is, and the amount of times he’s won championships on that stage.

“You’ve got received kids there now that can by no means have the prospect to play Phil Taylor.

“So even if Phil had beat me, it wouldn’t have bothered me. I was playing Phil Taylor in the final.”

“I think when you win it, the pressure’s off,” the Scotsman added.

“It doesn’t matter what happens after that, your name’s always going to be on that trophy.

“After I received it the second time, the third time, I did go for the hat-trick.

“There have been boys that have won it back-to-back. I don’t think they’ve done it three times in a row. But I made the finals – so I’ve done five finals, won it twice, so I’ve done not too bad there.”

Expectations? Completely none!

Some gamers will enter the World Championship with particular targets in thoughts, however for Anderson simply “playing well” is the one objective, with the hope that outcomes then comply with.

“You want to play well in every tournament. For sure,” he mentioned.

“But we’re getting to the end of it. You know, the World Championship at the end of the year, so we’ve just come to the end of the Pro Tour, end of the European, Grand Slam, Players’ Championship, on to the Worlds. So that should give the boys time to get ready for the big one.

“I can play effectively in the future and completely horrible the subsequent day.

“So I do not anticipate nothing now. I’ve received no expectations. I simply need to go up there and play effectively.

“It’s probably the first big stage, especially for the newcomers. And the first time they’re up there, that’s one of the biggest stages that any darts player will play. Well, it is the biggest stage.

“Simply the sheer size of the stage and the group behind it. So, the primary time, it’s a bit off-putting and a unique environment.”

When will the World Darts Championship happen?

The event will get underneath approach at Alexandra Palace on Sunday December 15, with three first-round matches and one second-round match on the opening night.

There might be reside darts over every of the next eight days, together with seven afternoon classes, with the same old three-day break from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day earlier than returning with the third spherical and a double session on December 27.

The third and fourth rounds might be accomplished by December 30 earlier than an evening off on New Yr’s Eve, with the quarter-finals held throughout two classes on New Yr’s Day forward of the semi-finals on January 2 and the ultimate on Friday January 3.

The complete day-by-day schedule for this yr’s event might be discovered right here.

Who will win the Paddy Energy World Darts Championship? Watch each match solely reside from December 15-January 3 on Sky Sports activities’ devoted darts channel. Stream darts and extra prime sport with NOW.