Dutch courage got Ando Berry emotional

GARY ANDERSON admits he has been left a blubbing wreck by the bravery of battling Berry van Peer.

The Scot sauntered into the knockout stages of the Grand Slam by topping his group with a 5-2 win over Simon Whitlock.

But it was van Peer who filled the venue with emotion again half an hour later as he defeated Cameron Menzies 5-4 to join Anderson in progressing from Group H. The Dutch kid roared into a 4-2 lead before his dreaded dartitis kicked in, which means the 21-year-old physically can’t throw his darts.

Menzies pulled it back to 4-4 but in a final leg that took an age and reduced both to tears, he overcame his demons to hit the winning shot.

Ayrshire plumber Menzies, like Ando the day before, showed sportsmanship and support to van Peer despite his loss as the venue rose to acclaim the brave victor.

Anderson said: “It was definitely the hardest, most emotional match of my career. I spent half an hour outside the venue after the match, I was a blubbing wreck.

“There’s an awful lot of players out there you wouldn’t be bothered about, horrible people. But Berry is a lovely bloke and it broke my heart to see him like that.

“I really was wanting him to hit his doubles. He was going for one big finish against me and I was actually willing him to hit it.”

Anderson was joined in the last 16 by World Cup partner Peter Wright after he survived a thrilling clash with Alan Norris to win 5-4.