'It's getting harder to win with every year' - Gary Anderson speaks about standard of darts ahead of World Championship

Gary Anderson is gearing up for another tilt at the World Championship and is after his 3rd title after previous back to back wins and ahead of the World Championship, 'The Flying Scotsman' spoke to the Sport Gazette ahead of it in an interview which talks about his form, Christmas and the standard.
“Every year, I play great at the start of the year and then, in the middle, I just die away. But then it comes to October and November and I start to come good again.
“Really, you need to play well for three weeks – and it’s the big three weeks coming up. So, if everything falls into place for that, then I’ll be okay!”
“If you lose early you’re home for Christmas,” Anderson jokes as he looks to claim the title for a third time.
“If you’re still in it then you’re not home for Christmas. If you get beaten, then at least you get Christmas at home. But you don’t want to lose.”
Yet, however well Anderson plays, he is under no illusions as to the challenge awaiting him at the sport’s showcase fortnight.
“It’s getting harder to win with every year,” he says, reeling off the many names now dining at the sport’s top table. Since January, Mensur Suljovic, Daryl Gurney and Peter Wright have all won their first major tournaments, while Rob Cross has rocketed into the world’s top twenty in his first year on the professional circuit.
“Next year will be even harder. Then next year, you’ll ask the same question and it will be even harder than that. The standard of players is getting better and better so it’s becoming harder and harder for the rest of us. A lot of the youngsters are coming through and they’re getting right into it.
“But a lot of the older boys can still hold their own – if not are still better. A lot of the youngsters haven’t quite taken off yet. Van Gerwen is obviously exceptional but the rest of the boys are coming up but they aren’t quite there yet.”
Anderson’s respect for Van Gerwen is obvious. The Dutchman holds six of the tour’s ten major trophies and the juggernaut has shown little sign of relenting in the run-up to the flagship tournament. In his last action before his first-round match, he beat Jonny Clayton 11-2 to win the Players Championships at Minehead.
“He’ll be the one to beat. I think Van Gerwen is definitely going to be the favourite,” Anderson says of the man who stood between him and a hat-trick of world titles back in January.