Retirement looks reel for Anderson
GARY ANDERSON will launch his bid for a third title at the William Hill World Championship tonight warning that he is close to following Raymond van Barneveld and Phil Taylor into retirement.
The Flying Scotsman, who will face Paul Nicholson or Kevin Burness in the second round, turns 48 next week, and says he cannot envisage staying full-time when he reaches his half-century.
Now he is close to pulling up the drawbridge and, asked if he had set a retirement date, hinted that he could follow Barney into the sunset after next year’s world championship.
Anderson, right, said: “I think I’ll be done before 50. Maybe this world championship and then maybe the next one, but that’s it.
“I wouldn’t say I’ll retire 100 per cent. I’ll keep playing now and then, but not often. If I qualify for something I’ll play in it, but I won’t be chasing ranking points across Europe. It won’t be happening. I wouldn’t do it the way Phil did and retire forever. I would turn up now and then to see if I can keep my tour card but once that goes, that will probably be me done.”
Before he takes his final bow, Anderson wants to become a three-time world champion
– and at 7-2 second favourite with the title sponsor, he is strongly fancied to do it.
It took world No1 Michael van Gerwen at his best to deny the Scot a third crown in 2017, and he said: “One more would be nice.
“I had a shot at the hat-trick two years ago but Van Gerwen did me in the final, then Taylor did me in the quarterfinals last year.
“People are saying that it will be Michael or me this year but I can still beat some of these boys without practising – I’d rather be fishing.”
Anderson has renewed his love affair with rod and reel of late, claiming peace on the riverbank is as good as hours on the practice board; the pressure evaporates. “I first started fishing 30 years ago but I’d forgotten how much fun it was. I can’t remember my biggest catch, probably between 10 and 15lbs, about a foot-and-a-half, but I don’t weight them. I just catch them, reel them in and let them go.
“It’s about sitting there, having a day to myself. Some days it shows and my darts just fall into place.
“A few years ago I would have said my two biggest catches were my two world titles, but not any more. I’d rather go fishing – less stress.”