Gary Anderson admits back pain could derail PDC World Championship bid
Flying Scotsman avoided a huge upset against close pal Chris Dobey as he came from 2-0 down and then 3-2 behind to win
ANGRY GARY ANDERSON admits his “body is shot to bits” as a back injury threatens to derail his Triple Crown bid.
The Flying Scotsman avoided a huge upset against close pal Chris Dobey as he came from 2-0 down and then 3-2 behind to win a thrilling third-round match 4-3 at the William Hill PDC World Darts Championship.
The world No.4 seed stormed out of Ally Pally with an ongoing lower back condition that is affecting his throw and unsettling his mood.
Anderson, 48, raged: “My body is shot. It’s hard when I’m not throwing darts right. I’m up there playing with a screwed-up body.
“Listen my back is in bits and I’m standing up there trying.
“You say I’m struggling, this and that. Well have my body and then try it yourself?
“I’m trying my hardest to play darts. Whether I play c***, good or in-between, I don’t care. I’m one the standing up there having to play darts. I’m playing a game that is absolutely killing my bloody body.
“This has been my luckiest tournament. I usually turn up here and play well. I’m always 100-plus averages. But three games played and no 100 yet.
“I’m a stubborn person, the pain will beat me one day but it won’t beat me over the next few days.”
It was less than two years ago that Northumberland-born Dobey used to put out traffic cones for a living on some of Britain’s busiest roads.
And his rise over the past two years on the circuit shows he has made the right decision to concentrate full-time on darts.
Anderson, the two-time world champion, is close pals with Dobey and often acts as his mentor and unofficial coach because they are from the same management stable.
Yet the 48-year-old put aside friendship to become the first man to book his place in the quarter-finals.
Dobey raced into a 2-0 lead playing some magnificent darts yet Anderson showed his experience and nous to draw level in the match.
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The game eventually went to a seventh-set decider and though he had two bounce-outs, it was Anderson who breezed through. He will now face either Jamie Lewis or Dave Chisnall in the last eight.
Dobey, who hit 15 180s and had a 100.83 average, said: “I’m gutted. It was a fantastic game.
“I’m competing with the best in the world and Gary is probably the best player on the planet. My confidence is sky high and I will take that into the New Year now.”
Michael van Gerwen, the world no.1, made a statement of intent with the best average of the world championship on day 12 of competition.
The Dutchman hit 108.08 in his 4-1 win over Adrian Lewis – the third successive time he had it a 100-plus average.
Van Gerwen, 29, took out checkouts of 127 and 116 and will now face the winner of today’s fourth-round tie between Ryan Joyce and James Wade.
He said: “Everyone could see my form was there and when I had to produce I did. My plan is just to take it round-by-round, no mistakes.
“Sometimes you think you are better than everybody else. Well, I have learned not to do that.
“It would be nice to play Gary Anderson in the semi-finals but we have to win our quarters first.”