Ando’s a Barn winner in fight for top Player
Gary Anderson insists his hunger is back after ending a 19-month title drought by winning the f irst darts Players Championship of 2020.
The Flying Scotsman was grounded in 2019 as he failed to enjoy any individual success while battling injury problems.
However, he beat five of the world’s top 15 – Simon Whitlock, Gerwyn Price, Rob Cross, Joe Cullen and Adrian Lewis – on his way to an 8- 4 final win over Canada’s Jeff Smith in Barnsley yesterday.
Anderson said: “It has been a while since I won something but I’ve got the hunger back.
“I still have work to do but it’s not a bad start.”
World champion Peter Wright lost to Smith whi le Lisa Ashton crashed 6-2 to Brendan Dolan on her PDC Pro Tour debut.
■ Britain’s women fa i led to reach tennis’ Fed Cup Finals after crashing to a 3-1 defeat in Bratislava.
Heather Watson gave them hope of overhauling Slovakia’s 2- 0 overnight lead by beating Rebecca Sramkova 6- 0 7-5.
But the comeback was brought to a shuddering halt when Harriet Dart was beaten 7- 5 6- 4 by Anna Schmiedlova.
■ Graeme Dott hopes it will be lucky 13 as he bids to end his long wait for a trophy today.
The former world champ chases his first ranking title since the China Open 13 years ago in the World Grand Prix.
A nd th e 42-year-old said: “It does feel like 13 years since the last title – in fact it feels longer! But if I can perform to the best of my ability then I have a great chance.
“I’ve nothing to lose. Nobody expected me to get to the final but I’ve been playing well.”
Dott has rolled back the years at Cheltenham Racecourse this week, beating favourite Ronnie O’Sullivan on his way to a 10th ranking final.
He added: “It will be tough but give me 6- 6 on Sunday night and I’ll fancy it.”
■ Jake Wightman has vowed to keep up his record-breaking run in Glasgow next Saturday by dumping Seb Coe off the top of the charts.
The Scot ace, 25, is hunting a second British best in a fortnight at the 800m at the Mul ler Indoor Grand Prix.
Wightman set a new 1000m mark in Boston a fortnight ago and has his sights on World Athletics boss Coe’s 800m mark.
He said: “Boston was always a target so now I want to go for the 800m record in Glasgow.”
Nikki Manson raised the Scottish high jump record for the second time in a month last night when she cleared 1.93m at an indoor meeting in the Czech Republic.
■ Scots duo Charlotte Watson and Sarah Robertson helped Great Britain beat New Zealand in their FIH Pro League hockey clash.
Robertson set up Tess Howard for the opener and Watson scored the second in a 3- 0 win.
■ Sydney Sixers beat Melbourne Stars by 19 runs to win cricket’s Big
Bash League.