MVG: GARY IS A TOTAL MOANER
DARTS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CRAIG SWAN
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN is taking Gary Anderson’s bad back complaints with a pinch of salt.
The World No.1 and the Scottish hero are on collision course for a semi-final Sunday showdown if they win their quarter-finals today at the Ally Pally.
But Anderson, who faces Dave Chisnall for a place in the last four, reckons his title chances could be derailed by a busted back which has troubled him for over a year.
The 48-year-old has scraped through in wins over Jermaine Wattimena and Chris Dobey in his previous two rounds and said: “I am struggling. I’m trying but it is hurting like hell. I’m c.swan@dailyrecord.co.uk struggling to throw my proper darts.
“But it’s getting to a stage now where I think ‘do I want to keep putting myself through this just to play darts?’.
“The pain is actually beating me. Usually I’m quite good at getting through the pain and battling on but now it’s starting to do my nut in to be honest.
“I love this tournament. It’s just this year, I’m bin-worthy. There’s trash now and again. I’m putting in one good leg and then the next two or three are a waste of space.
“I’m not going to give up but if I win, yes, it’ll be the luckiest World Championship that I have ever won.”
Van Gerwen takes on Ryan Joyce, who stunned James Wade with a 4-3 win yesterday, in the last eight but isn’t buying any of Anderson’s claims.
He reckons his pal is milking it to play the underdog card.
Van Gerwen said: “He didn’t struggle when he had to hit double six. Don’t always believe everything he says. I don’t care.
“A nice few excuses. Gary is Gary. Gary always moans, complains, that’s how he is.
“In Holland we say we take it with a pinch of salt. He wants to be in the underdog position but he needs to remember he’s one of the favourites. Deep inside he knows that as well.
“He says every week to me that he has a bad back. Every week he says I’m getting old, I’ve got a bad back. I don’t care whatever people say or think. I just do my own thing.
“My tournament average is 104 so far. I feel comfortable. I’m looking forward to the next game. There’s more to come from me of course. I’m in sixth gear out of seven I think.
“In this tournament you need to do the right things at the right moments. I’ve got a phenomenal family at home.
“I had a few nice days of preparation for the game and also my own bed, so that’s better.
“Gary did the right things at the right moments in his game. If he had not hit that last dart double six, he would have probably lost. But that’s Gary Anderson. Gary can handle pressure, simple as that.
“The big top seeds are still there. The others do something wrong by not winning, I don’t know and I don’t care.
“I only have to look to myself. I need to do the right things for myself.”