GARY ANDERSON

The Flying Scotsman

PDC Ranking as 1st January 2020: 6

Darts Used:  Gary Anderson World Champion 23g

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Walk on Music: ♫ Jump Around by House of Pain

Place of Birth: Musselburgh

Hometown: Burnham on Sea

Date of Birth: 22/12/1970

“And it’s glory glory Gary Anderson”- The infamous line uttered by Rod Studd as ‘The Flying Scotsman’ nailed double 12 to seal his fate and put his name in the record books as a PDC World Darts Champion.

Prior to his exploits in the PDC, Anderson spent nearly a decade with the British Darts Organisation. While he didn’t reach the peak of his powers in the BDO system, he did obtain four major titles.

In what was his breakthrough year, Anderson was crowned Finder Masters, International Darts League and World Trophy champion in 2007. He would add to his ever-growing reputation by retaining the Finder Masters the following year.

His switch to the PDC in 2009 proved to be a coming of age for Anderson. Just two years into his career in the PDC he would reach his first final. After several high-profile upsets in the BDO World Championships, he would lose out to a fast-firing Adrian Lewis in what would go down as a classic Alexandra Palace encounter.

He would realize his enormous potential following his first PDC victory in the 2011 Premier League, a victory that would lead to significant success down the road.

After flying through the early stages of the 2015 PDC World Championship, he would line-up on the 4th of January against a darting great. Phil Taylor looking for that elusive 17th World title. But it would be the day of the softly spoken Scotsman.

The pair were neck-a-neck throughout the terrific tussle, barely a set separating the tungsten titans. But as they reached the 13th and deciding set, the tide turned. With a glimmer in his eye, Anderson missed bullseye for the title, leaving himself on 25 to put his name in the record books. He would return to board and nail double 12 to be crowned World Darts Champion for the first time in his career, to a standing ovation from the adoring Ally Pally crowd.

The following year Anderson would return to ‘The People’s Palace’ looking to retain his title. He dropped just two sets on route to the final where he would face old adversary Adrian Lewis. Having lost out to ‘Jackpot’ in 2011, the then world number two would return the favour to get he hands on the Sid Waddell Trophy for a second time.

After completing the triple crown with his World Matchplay triumph in 2018, it seems although Anderson’s dominance will only continue. For a player that was once nicknamed ‘Dream Boy’, Anderson seems to have achieved many of his darting dreams. But despite his trophy cabinet being full to the brim, there is plenty more to come from ‘The Flying Scotsman’.