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

A variety of darts followers will head to Ally Pally targeted on the gifted children coming via the ranks, however Gary Anderson is intent on displaying 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 basic 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 identify for darts aficionados, consideration currently has been on the likes of Littler, Gian van Veen and Mike De Decker developing via the ranks and inflicting a stir.

Anderson, although, is quietly assured that, within the greatest match of all of them, expertise will at all times 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 stated.

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

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

Though Anderson is glad to see so many new gamers get a lot success, he does preserve 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 stated.

“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 at all times stated, get a commerce, have one thing behind you which you could fall onto. It is there for a security web.”

‘I’ve not achieved 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 one of the best 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 remaining to Michael van Gerwen.

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

“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 obtained children 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 gained 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 stated.

“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 someday and completely horrible the subsequent day.

“So I do not anticipate nothing now. I’ve obtained no expectations. I simply wish 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 gang behind it. So, the primary time, it’s a bit off-putting and a unique environment.”

When will the World Darts Championship happen?

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

There will probably be reside darts over every of the next eight days, together with seven afternoon periods, 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 will probably be accomplished by December 30 earlier than an evening off on New Yr’s Eve, with the quarter-finals held throughout two periods 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 12 months’s match 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.