ANDOWHITES BACK TO WIN
GOLDEN Gary Anderson feared he was heading home before an amazing recovery kept alive his hopes of a third World Championship title.
The two-time king of the Alexandra Palace in 2015 and 2016 somehow stayed on course for a hat-trick by rising from the depths to drown the hopes of his fishing pal Ian White with a miraculous fightback.
Anderson was in desperate trouble after a dismal beginning in his attempt to join countrymen Peter Wright and Alan Soutar in tonight’s last-16.
The Scot was three sets down and heading for the exit as Diamond sparkled early in the match.
Yet Anderson wriggled off the hook.
The Musselburgh man was 2-0 down and, after missing darts to win the third set, was punished as White took it with a special 124 finish.
At that stage, the game looked up for the Scottish darts hero.
But Anderson dug deep into his vast reserves of experience and quality to reel off the last four sets against all odds to progress.
He said: “I got away with it. I’m fighting myself with these darts. It’s doing my head in, to be honest.
“I don’t think Ian played that well, either. First set I gave away, second set same again, third set I’m going home. When you are that far in front, you can get lackadaisical. If you start missing the odd double and I pick them off, panic sets in.
“I wouldn’t say that was my best but I will fight. Until I hear Game Shot, I’ll keep going.”
Anderson now faces 2018 champion Rob Cross in today’s matches and said: “Rob has been playing how he used to.”
Champion Gerwyn Price marched on as he brushed aside Dirk van Duijvenbode 4-1.