NAPPY RETURN
Ando can’t wait to get going again at Braehead after the birth of his daughter Cheylea
GARY ANDERSON reckons nappy power can charge his bid for Glasgow glory.
Scotland’s darting darling is back on home soil tonight for the Ladbrokes World Series Finals at Braehead Arena.
Anderson has the rest of the game’s elite standing in his way of success and also needs to get rust out of his arm.
For a two-month spell the game had to go on the back burner.
With the arrival of baby daughter Cheylea last month, Anderson has been up to his eyes in it at home and is only now starting to get back into his regular routine.
Having made just a couple of competitive appearances in eight weeks, the two-time World Champion admits he’s back to school and back to basics.
Anderson spent the past two nights playing in Fort William and Grangemouth to get tuned-up for Braehead, but it’s his little ones who will provide the real strength and motivation.
The 46-year-old from Musselburgh, who also has three-year-old son Tai with partner Rachel, said: “It has been a hectic time, an enjoyable time and a busy time.
“There have been so many things going on and it’s not easy for an old man like me to keep up.
“Family is so important to everyone and it meant a lot to me that I was around the place helping out and doing what I could.
“Rachel obviously had the hard bit to deal with but I tried to be of some assistance wherever possible. “Thankfully, everything went smoothly and the wee one is doing well.
“She’s a little smasher and no doubt she will have me wrapped around her little finger.
“With that all sorted, it’s time to get the overalls on and get back to work. I played in the Players Championship a couple of weeks ago and that had to be about the second time I’d picked up a dart in two months, having only really played in the Champions League.
“There was a fair bit of rust in the arm but I didn’t do too badly.
“It wasn’t enough, though, and now it is time to get going. This is such a crucial time of the year with this special event in Glasgow and then on to big ones like the Grand Slam and the World Championships.
“Everyone is getting into the mood but that smell of nappies and talcum powder and sight of baby toys kicking about the house does something to my game.
“When my boy Tai was born I started winning loads. Maybe the realisation that I need to start forking out for kids kit provides the incentive!”
Anderson will have a packed house backing him at Braehead but admits he needs to improve on his record in
the event having gone out in the first round in the past two years. He said: “It’s the strangest thing and not something that pleases me. “When I play in Scotland in the Premier League my record is actually pretty decent. “In both Glasgow and Aberdeen I have a habit of winning my matches so there is no logical reason why it’s not the same in other events. “But things like the Masters in Edinburgh or the World Series at Braehead haven’t gone too well. “I’ve kept losing early and it’s annoying because so many people support me and the last thing I want to do is let anyone down out there. “I’ve been practising constantly and as hard as I can since the baby was born to try and get back into the swing of it. “The World Series has been a good tournament for me in the past wee while. I’ve won some of the events and also managed to win in Perth and Dubai this year. “Having a good run in the Finals will set me right for a strong spell – that’s the aim.” Adrian Lewis and Dave Chisnall were huge casualties in last night’s first-round action. Jackpot was thumped 6-2 by German Max Hopp while Chisnall was defeated 6-5 by fellow Englishman Justin Pipe.
That smell of nappies and talcum powder just does something to my game GARY ANDERSON