ANDERSON WON’T LOSE SIGHT OF MORE TITLES
GARY ANDERSON admitted he may need to consider glasses after almost seeing his chances of a second World Darts Championship title disappear before his eyes. The 45-year-old Scot beat Adrian Lewis 7-5 in Sunday’s Final at Alexandra Palace despite twice miscounting scores and afterwards he admitted he was seeing numbers. Anderson added that he had never had an eye test, but he will try to correct his vision problems before focusing his sights on a third world title. ‘I have done all right,’ said Anderson after successfully defending his title. ‘Not bad for an old blind man. ‘When I get up in the morning, I struggle. When I go downstairs, I am looking at people and saying: “Who’s that?”. But I have just put it down to old age. ‘I am getting on now. I am no spring chicken. ‘People ask me if I read a newspaper and I say: “No, I can’t see it”. ‘I have tried playing with glasses on but I knock them across my forehead because I end up hitting them as the dart catches underneath. ‘When I am throwing right, I touch my eye. When I am struggling a bit, I find my darts drop down to my cheekbone. ‘I am seeing numbers that are not there. The 148 — I could have sworn it was 128 and as I walked up, I said: “That is a four”. ‘I just wanted to disappear. Listening to the crowd, I was struggling. It was hard work.’ Michael Smith, one of Anderson’s protégées, was handed a place in this year’ s Premier League for the first time and has tried wearing contact lenses while playing. But Anderson said: ‘Michael Smith says it is easy but I could not think of anything worse than putting contacts in. ‘We will get it sorted. I have never had an eye test. The last time was at school. ‘They might turn around and say that I am fine.’ Anderson’s victory at Alexandra Palace earned him a record £300,000 winner’s cheque, as well as an extra £15,000 for his nine-dart finish against Jelle Klaasen in the semi-finals. With more prize money and more spectators than ever before, the event and the sport continue to grow. ‘We are told 2020 is £500,000 for the winner — that could be retirement year,’ said Anderson. ‘We have seen footballers here, cricket stars and boxers. If they are coming for a night out, we must be doing something right.’