Power of London
DARTS PREMIER LEAGUE FINAL Anderson’s out to maintain his monopoly of London on finals night at the O2
GARY ANDERSON is aiming to hand out another London lesson and maintain his Monopoly on world darts.
The Flying Scotsman will thunder into the O2 tonight looking to make another section of the English capital his own.
Anderson knows the biggest prizes in the game are placed on London property and he’s making a happy knack of collecting them.
It was at Wembley four years ago the Musselburgh ace got his hands on the Premier League crown as he won his first PDC major.
In January it was across the city at the Alexandra Palace where Anderson lifted the biggest one of all by beating Phil Taylor in the World Championship final.
Days later it was down to Park Lane to collect the prestigious PDC Player of the Year award.
Now the dice have sent him to London Docklands and the famous O2 Arena in a bid to snare the latest top prize.
Anderson is determined as ever to give the Dartan Army another unforgettable evening.
He said: “Any Scotsman down in London is the underdog. Even if you go down there as the world champion you’re the underdog.
“Being Scottish down there is great, it keeps the blood pumping. You get some boos and that and some of the stuff can be rough but I’ve played for 20 years now and I have skin like a rhino.
“I’m getting older and getting wiser to some of the tricks of the trade. Everything gets noted.
“When things are going well you can deal with anything. I just seem to be getting deafer and people can do what they want to put me off.
“When someone is screaming for you to miss it gives you some boost when you hit it.
“You give some back and lifting the trophies makes it even better.”
Much has changed for Anderson since he lifted that maiden major PDC title in 2011.
Classed as an outsider going against Raymond van Barneveld in the semi-finals the Scot set up a final against Adrian Lewis by downing the Dutchman 8-6.
In a repeat of the 2011 World final Anderson turned the tables on Jackpot and whipped him 10-4 to clinch the title.
He said: “It was that long ago I have almost forgotten about.
“A lot has happened since. Everything else that comes my way now is a bonus. I’ve always said I played darts better 15 or 20 years ago than I do now.
“I have no need to prove myself to anyone. I certainly don’t need to prove anything to myself.”
Anderson will have to be at his best to get through with Dave Chisnall, Michael van Gerwen and van Barneveld in contention.
The Scot tackles Chizzy in the first semi-final before the Dutch pair go head to head.
Anderson has not enjoyed a good year against the St Helens slinger who is in red-hot form.
But he said: “I’m sure I tipped Chizzy to win this thing when it started. He’s been due a good run and has been brilliant.
“If not the best, he’s easily the second best player in the tournament but everything goes out the window on the big night.
“It doesn’t matter what you’ve done. It’s what you do now.”