“Absolutely rank. The worst dartboards ever” - Gary Anderson lashes out at Winmau Blade X after Scotland send statement at World Cup of Darts

Gary Anderson had barely finished helping Scotland into the 2026 World Cup of Darts quarter-finals before turning his frustration towards the Winmau Blade X boards, branding them “absolutely rank” after an 8-0 demolition of Norway in Frankfurt.

Anderson and Cameron Menzies averaged 99.37 in their first World Cup match together, with Norway’s Cor Dekker and Kent Sivertsen restricted to an 83.82 average. Scotland finished at 66.7 per cent on the outer ring, hit a highest checkout of 118, and produced only the third whitewash in the knockout stage of the competition since 2023.

Menzies set up double 16 for Anderson as Scotland moved 4-0 clear without missing a dart at double. The new pairing then broke again with a 110 checkout, added a 64 finish for 7-0, and returned from a missed 124 to close out the match on 25.

Speaking to Dartnsnews.com and others post-match, and asked about switching back from gold points, Anderson went straight at the boards. “I have had to, because the dartboards are absolutely rank. They are the worst dartboards ever,” Anderson said. “Do not just quote me on it. Ask anyone on the circuit who is playing. Even ask the PDC. Even ask the dart manufacturers. They will tell you the boards are absolutely shocking.”

Anderson said the issue had affected his set-up. “The darts go in straight,” he added. “I have had to go to the black points just to get a bit of an angle on the points.”

Asked whether that switch had helped, Anderson replied: “It is supposed to, but they are still going in a bit straight. We have been at it for months. We have been talking about it. Not a player on the circuit is happy with these dartboards. That is why I have gone to the black points.”

Scotland opened with a 180 and quickly settled into a rhythm that gave Norway no foothold. Anderson later joked that he does not like beginning with a maximum because “it only goes downhill”, but there was no drop-off across the eight legs.

“Like I said to Cammy, I think there were maybe only three or four throws where we did not hit 100 or more, even with the checkouts,” Anderson said. “We might have missed a couple at doubles, but it was ton, ton-40, and it went well.”

He added: “The way we played right off from the word go, it was good.”

Menzies, making his World Cup debut for Scotland alongside Anderson, felt the match had been made easier by his partner’s level. “I would say that was one of the easiest games I have played because Gary just won it,” he said.

“No, Gary was brilliant. He was on fire. I felt like I was actually going to go missing from the board at one point because Gary was just flying. He made my debut the easiest debut on any big stage of my life. He got the game by the scruff of the neck and he took control.”

Menzies still had the final dart of the match, returning to take out 25 after Scotland had missed a chance at 124. “The only thing I had was the winning double, and I will take that,” he said. “Gary was great.”

Anderson pushed back on any suggestion that Menzies had been carried. “We won 8-0,” he said. “We played well. It is a team game.”

Scotland’s new pairing arrived with questions around it, with Menzies replacing Peter Wright and Anderson making a record 12th World Cup appearance. When it was put to Menzies that some had wondered how the pair would gel, he replied: “That might shut a few of them up.”

Menzies said their partnership was not as unfamiliar as it might have looked from outside. “Me and Gary get on well,” he said. “We do a lot together. We are with the same management team as well. You know Gary likes you when he slags you.”

Anderson added: “If I talk to you, I like you.”

Menzies said that relationship had helped him handle his first World Cup match for Scotland. “It is not random for me. I am lucky to be here, but it is not like I do not get on with Gary,” he said. “Gary is great with all the guys at the table. I think that helped me because there are no problems, and there are no nerves with that side of it.”

There were still nerves before the match. “It did more than I could have thought because I was nervous,” Menzies said. “This is the first time I have done this. I have played the boys before, but this is the first time I have played at this level.”

Anderson did not need to say much on stage. “There were not many words,” Menzies said. “But sometimes there is eye contact and not many words need to be said. It was great.” Before he added: “If I could have asked for a perfect first game, that would not be far off perfect for me.”

Menzies also joked about the small signs of approval from Anderson during the match. “The thing with Gary is, he does not show much emotion,” he said. “I am the opposite. But when you play darts and he gives the fist pump, that means a lot.”

Scotland won the World Cup in 2019 and 2021 with Anderson and Wright, while Robert Thornton and John Henderson have also represented the nation during the event’s history. Anderson said Wright had wished the team well before the tournament and placed Menzies within that Scotland line. “Peter came across last week, didn’t he?” Anderson said. “Peter came across and said all the best, and he did.”

He then added: “You have had Peter, Robert Thornton, John Henderson, myself, and now Cammy. Cammy will be around a lot longer than I will be. You better get used to that shirt.”

Menzies was clearly moved by the chance to wear it. “There are not many people who can say they have played with Gary in the World Cup,” he said. “What a game as well. We played well. No matter what happens, not many people can say that.”

He joked that it would be going straight onto social media. “That is something I will put on my Facebook page before I sail off,” Menzies said. “I might have to get my fishing rod soon so me and Gary can reminisce about this moment.”

Anderson was asked what it would mean to win the tournament with Menzies. “He might get the cuddle if we win this,” he said, before immediately revising it. “No, I might give him a long handshake.”

Menzies replied: “That is the deal. Do not cuddle me. If we win this, he might give me one.”

Anderson then made clear the target. “We want to win it,” he said. “For his first time in Scotland, he has got the Scotland shirt on now and he is going to wear it for a long time.”

Menzies said Anderson still had plenty left in him too. “I think you have a few years left, boy,” he said. “He goes fishing and stuff, but he has still got a love for darts. Especially with that badge on his chest. Honestly, he is Scotland through and through.”

England entered the tournament as favourites with Luke Littler and Luke Humphries, but Anderson was not treating the draw as a closed race. “It is like football. It is a free-for-all,” he said. “Whoever turns up and plays the best wins on the day. It is as simple as that.”

On paper, Anderson accepted England’s strength. “Hands down, they should absolutely pee it,” he said. “They should win it without blinking. But it is a different game up there, isn’t it? You never know.”

Scotland move on to face the Republic of Ireland after an 8-0 win, a 99.37 average and a first performance that gave Norway no foothold.