Gary Anderson

Gary Anderson (born 22 December 1970) is a Scottish professional darts player from Eyemouth, Scottish Borders, currently playing in the Professional Darts Corporation, and a former BDO and WDF world number one.

He is the reigning PDC World Champion and is nicknamed the Flying Scotsman.

Anderson is the reigning PDC World Champion after defeating Phil Taylor 7–6 in the 2015 final, while he was also a finalist in 2011.

His other career highlights include winning the World Darts Trophy in 2007, International Darts League in 2007, Zuiderduin Masters in 2007 and 2008, Premier League in 2011 and 2015 and Players Championship Finals in 2014.

The win ensured he qualified for the following year’s World Championship for the first time, where he suffered a first round defeat to Sweden’s Stefan Nagy, going down 3–0.

The following year, in the 2003 BDO World Darts Championship Anderson reached the semi-final stage before bowing out to eventual runner-up Ritchie Davies.

Anderson would not win another match at the Lakeside Country Club until 2006, when he beat Gary Robson in the first round before again falling to the eventual finalist this time in Raymond van Barneveld in the second round.

Shortly after his WDT title, his success continued by clinching the BDO British Open to add to his 2007 Scottish Open success.

Anderson also won the Zuiderduin Masters two years in a row – the first of which was an unranked event, the second was the first championship since the tournament was elevated to the status of ranking major.

Anderson finished 2007 as the WDF world number 1, while he later ended 2008 as the WDF world number 2 behind Scott Waites.

In 2008, Anderson won the German Open, Welsh Open and BDO International Grand Prix titles.

He also won the Dutch Pentathlon in 2008, retaining the title in 2009, with a world record score of 502 points.

Anderson had a disappointing defence of his Premier League title. He finished bottom of the league table having won just three matches from the 14 game season.

In winning the event in 2011 he made a total of 79 180’s, but could only manage 31 this year, the least of any of the eight players.

However, in the last league game Anderson did have an encouraging 7–7 draw with Phil Taylor.

He qualified for the 2013 Premier League by virtue of being the 2011 champion.

In the first eight matches he could only beat Phil Taylor and Simon Whitlock and went into the ninth week knowing he had to beat James Wade to have any chance of avoiding being one of the two relegated players from the 10-man league.

Anderson lost 3–7 to Wade and stated afterwards that he has struggled with his game for the last year. At the UK Open he led Kevin Painter 7–3 in the fourth round, but then lost six consecutive legs to exit the tournament 7–9.

Anderson showed his best darts in the first round of the World Grand Prix as he averaged 104.86 in the double start event during a two sets to nil 10 minute defeat of Jelle Klaasen.

He then edged past Wes Newton 3–2 before meeting Phil Taylor in top form in the quarter-finals who beat Anderson 3–0.

At the Grand Slam of Darts, Anderson produced two superb performances in the group stage as he averaged 107.14 and 111.80 in defeats of Wesley Harms and Peter Wright.

He lost his other game to James Wade to finish second in the group and play Taylor in the last 16.

Anderson again posted an impressive average of 106.13 (almost four points ahead of Taylor’s), but from 4–4 was unable to capitalise on the chances his scoring set up and lost 10–5.

Anderson’s second major quarter-final of the year came at the Players Championship Finals where he lost 9–7 to Justin Pipe.