ANDERSON CLAIMS HE’S “TOO OLD” TO WIN TITLE

GARY ANDERSON believes he is “too old” to win a third World title.

The Flying Scotsman rolled back the years with a stunning performance to beat Connor Scutt on Tuesday night.

Now Ando, 55, takes on Jermaine Wattimena in the third round on Sunday night. But, despite the second highest average of the tournament against Scutt of 105, he rules out challenging the lethal Lukes – Littler and Humphries – for a hat-trick of titles.

He said: “I’m too old. Carry on. Talk away, do what you want. I’m just here to chuck darts, like we always say.

“They’re the two best players in the world by far. It’s like the old days when I played with Phil Taylor and that.

“Everyone was chasing Taylor and it’s the same now with these two, but they can. Luke Littler played the other night and he wasn’t as dominating in that match as what he usually is. Against David Davies, he was a bit off his core a bit.”

Anderson even revealed he is being pushed by his 11-year-old son Tai into practising.

He added:  “If I’m just winning a game nowadays, it’s good. But it can be done. People think it’s a young man’s game, it’s not. I can still do it. Tai came up on Saturday, so me and Tai have been in the room the last three days and he’s been dragging me out for a throw, playing the 121.

“He’s addicted to 121, so it’s got me out of the room instead of just sitting there rocking back and forward on the end of my bed.”

Ando knows he’s in for a fierce battle with the on-form ‘Machine Gun’ Wattimena.

Pundits are predicting an epic clash, but he added:  “Well, hopefully, but every time you say that, it’s usually a bundle of guff, isn’t it? It’s usually rotten. Anderson vs Gerwen, it’s going to be a great game and it’s rubbish!

“But no, Jermaine, over the last 18-24 months, he’s went from here to there, with his darts, He’s been absolutely fantastic over the last two years, so that’s another hard one.”

Anderson even admits to being SICK with nerves but is much more calm these days.

He added: “I can remember being sick in one of the staff’s hoover blocks. It was the only thing. I used to get so sick with nerves and that before I went on stage. Every time I was outside being properly violently sick. But now it’s just like, nah, you know what? Nah. It just doesn’t kick in now. I do enjoy it. I do like playing darts.

“Like I say, wee Tai is playing darts now, so I need to show a bit more interest and kick him up the backside and get him a bit better.”

With everyone eyeing up the £1million for the winner of the Worlds, Ando revealed his first ever prize.

He said: “I think it was a chicken hamper and a free set of darts. We used to play tournaments. Back in the BDO, you’d get beat in the semis or the final. you’d get a free set of darts or something like that and that was your prize.

“But, I mean, darts over the last 10, 20 years, especially the last 10 years, it is humongous and it’s great to see all the youngsters playing now.

“There’s kids. I do a lot of exhibitions and we used to play the old boys of the pub or the darts team. Now it’s from six years old to 12-year-olds. That’s all you’re playing darts.”

Images by TAYLOR LANNING.