Throwing pains.. but at least I’ll be home for Xmas
Gary delays trip to doc as he bids for a world title tonic
GARY ANDERSON knows he’ll have to cancel medical appointments and play through pain to win the world title.
But the Scottish star admits he’s just glad the agony won’t extend to missing Christmas with his kids.
Anderson defeated Madars Razma yesterday to move through to the next stage at the Ally Pally.
The 50-year-old is managing a knee problem at the moment but a lack of appointments due to Covid has meant he’s scheduled for the next one on December 30.
Anderson won’t be able to attend should he continue to progress in the worlds but he’ll at least get home for Christmas Day unlike some of his foreign competitors who are being forced to stay in London due to travel restrictions.
The Scot, who had to have his clash with Razma delayed by five days as he was in selfisolation due to being a close contact, said: “I ’ ve got inflammation and fluid.
“I can go to see the doctor on the 30th but I’m planning to still be playing darts on the 30th.
“I’ve had sore back, sore knees. Even in March I was getting my osteopath sometimes twice or three times a week. Even if there was nothing wrong I was still going there just to go over me.
“I ’ ve waited about two months for the X-ray. It took a while but they phoned me and gave me a date. I said, ‘I can’t, I’m up in London. Next time is 30th of December, if I’m out I’ll come and see you, if not I’ll see you in the new year.’
“It’s one of these things. Touch wood we’re all good. Back home we do it right, we shop as little as possible, meet people as little as possible. Then you come to London – Tier 4, don’t touch the bannister, don’t do anything actually. It’s a bit scary.
“It wasn’t a worry – if I couldn’t play, I couldn’t play. That’s the rules,
“There was no use crying over it if I had to miss it. They ping you and say you’ve got to have two weeks off. Yes!
“We get told to do something, that’s what you do. But it’s great that we’re still here and playing darts.
“A lot of the boys, all they’ve got is darts. It’s going to be hard for them. If they get knocked off for another six months, what they going to do?
“The country is in lockdown, no one is letting us in or out, all the Dutch boys are across here for Christmas. Heart bleeds.
“I’m fortunate to get home for Christmas, a lot of the boys are having to miss out now. I’ll get back and watch the ki d d i e s opening their presents and then head back down.”
Anderson now faces Mensur Suljovic in a repeat of the 2018 World Matchplay Final after the Serb saw of f Matthew Edgar with a 3-1 win.
Suljovic said: “Gary is a big gentleman, I really like him. It’s the biggest of them all really. I will give my best.”
There was another big shock last night as world No.4 Michael Smith crashed out with a 3-1 loss to Jason Lowe.
All the Dutch boys are across here for Christmas. Heart bleeds GARY ANDERSON ON STARS STUCK IN LONDON