ANDERSON CLAIMS LITTLER HAS SAVED DARTS FROM "GOING UP THE CREEK"

GARY ANDERSON claims Luke Littler has saved darts from a worrying future.

The world No11 rolled back the years at the World Matchplay by reaching his first quarter-final in six years after beating Jonny Clayton 11-7 at the Winter Gardens.

Anderson, 55, averaged 98.13 in a superb display as he recovered from 4-1 down to defeat the Welshman and continue a brilliant year on the big stage.

The Scot has already reached the semi-finals of the World Championship this season and is now three wins away from lifting a second Matchplay title.

He told talkSPORT: “My game was shot at 4-1 down. I was thinking, ‘I’ll just nick at least three or four legs and make it look good,’ but then I ended up going 6-4 up.

“I just battled on and plodded on. It wasn’t the greatest of averages, but we got the outcome.

“When I got a couple of legs in front, there was one leg that I lost and made a complete mess of.

“I was trying to keep ahead of him. Then it started to come good.

“In that last leg, I didn’t want to give him much of a chance because, if I started missing, he wasn’t going to miss.

“He’s been in the Premier League and he’s been in the top five—top four, even. Jonny is a 50-year-old who has been in the world’s top four. He’s a class act.”

Anderson revealed he remains motivated simply by enjoying his time on the oche rather than chasing records or worrying about outside expectations.

He added: “I’ve always enjoyed playing darts. I tell people that I don’t watch darts. I don’t have time for darts, but I enjoy playing.

“Win or lose, I don’t care, as long as I can play all right. I would rather lose and play well than play rubbish and win.

“People say, ‘Oh, he doesn’t.’ I don’t give two flying monkeys!

“I’ve done it for 32 years now, coming up for 33. These boys have got a great life in front of them.”

Littler has changed the face of darts since bursting onto the scene in 2024, winning 13 major titles and becoming a back-to-back world champion at just 18.

The Nuke is now chasing further history by attempting to become the first player to win every PDC Premier event in a single season.

Anderson believing his rise has inspired a new generation of players and taken the sport to another level.

He continued: “My days are kind of gone, but I must admit, Littler has been a rainbow in darts over the last two years.

“The youngsters are coming through now. Darts is in a good place.

“I reckon that, if it hadn’t been for him, we might have been up the creek.”

Words: Aaron Nijjar

Image: Taylor Lanning