ANDO ROLLS BACK THE YEARS TO DEFEAT MVG

By Phil Lanning

GARY ANDERSON said he was “ROTTEN” but delivered his finest hour for five years to beat Michael van Gerwen.

The Flying Scotsman produced a wonderful display to defeat his old foe 4-1 at the Ally Pally last night (Tuesday).

Ando, 55, rolled back the years to dump the Dutchman and reach the quarter-finals of the World Championship and now faces debutant Justin Hood on New Year’s Day.

It was, arguably, his best showing in London since reaching the World Final against Gerwyn Price during the pandemic.

Anderson said: “I think I was rotten. Michael was rotten.

“I knew Michael misses a few doubles but not that many. So, we pinched it at the end. Happy to get through.

“I was fired up, aye. I never felt right when we got on the stage. I don’t think Michael felt right either.

“I think I was trying to feed off him and vice versa. He hit rubbish, I hit rubbish. I hit a 180, he followed it with a 180.

“It was just one of those games. I am sweaty there.

“I know what he is like, once he gets his nose in front of you, he’s a hard man to catch.”

It was a proper slugfest from the off. Both players sped through their walk-on without even stopping for fans, such was their focus on the battle ahead.

But it was Anderson who started the more consistently and took out a wonderful 78 with double 12 to take a 2-0 lead in sets.

Van Gerwen crucially pulled a set back to stay in the match, stepping up with a 104 average in the third set.

However, Ando still had more in the locker and as they kept exchanging blows, there was so little to choose between the pair.

But the Scot kept his cool with tops to once again establish a cushion and 3-1 lead in sets.

In a patchy encounter, it was Anderson who just had the better timing and wrapped it up with ease.

Image by Taylor Lanning.