28/12/2020

Anderson edges past Suljovic into World Championship Last 16 with hard fought victory

Gary Anderson is through to the Last 16 of the 2020/21 PDC World Darts Championship after coming through a scrappy contest against Mensur Suljovic 4-3.

It was a gruelling battle with it being characterized by missed darts at doubles with 14/47 for Anderson and 13/38 for Suljovic.

Also it wasn't without controversy with Anderson seemingly riled by the poor pace of 'The Gentle' who seemed to slow his game down to begin the tie.

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To begin the tie, Anderson had the chance for an opening break missing two darts at double eight after being ahead in the leg for so long and he was punished by Suljovic on double 20.

The former was straight back though to hold with a 130 checkout. The duo exchanged 180’s on Suljovic’s throw but it was the latter who went 2-1 up after Anderson missed a dart at double nine.

A 45 checkout to hold throw sent Suljovic on throw to end the opening set. He missed double 16 for a 152 checkout but Anderson couldn’t pin a 120 checkout.

Suljovic couldn’t pin double eight either and Anderson pulled it out of the bag with a 73 checkout on the bull.

After the opening set where Suljovic tried to slow things down, he returned to throw quicker but Anderson took the first leg on double eight. He was a break up from there despite messing around on the doubles to potentially allow him back into the tie.

Suljovic was down at an 80 average and was not playing well, Anderson missed eight darts at double to win the set as he went down to the madhouse and Suljovic picked his pocket for a break.

He hit a 180 and wired 67 for the set but was given a chance at double eight to claim an unlikely set win.

A brilliant 165 left 17 and Suljovic pinned double eight to go 1-0 up in the third set. Anderson hit a 180 to leave 32 but he once again was missing doubles taking his tally to 5/28 but Suljovic missed two darts to break and Anderson held.

A 165 pressure shot amounted to nothing for Anderson as Suljovic hit double 20 to go 2-1 up. Anderson hit back with 102 to hold throw to set up a big shootout in the decider.

Suljovic missed darts for the set and Anderson had one dart from 69 at double 20 which he pinned to go 2-1 up. Anderson missed three darts to hold and he was once again frustrated with Suljovic breaking with a 76 checkout.

Suljovic and Anderson continued to miss but it was ‘The Gentle’ who struck on double one to go 2-0 up and one away from levelling it up in sets.

Anderson missed double 11 for a 142 and an 81 checkout saw Suljovic go 2-2 in sets. He went six legs without reply from there as he claimed the fifth set to nil to move ahead.

Anderson turned it around though and broke with an 11-darter in the form of an 81 checkout to go 2-0 up. But a 156 checkout sent it to a deciding set.

Anderson put his doubling percentage up to 11/45 as he missed more but again Suljovic himself wasn’t able to pin double eight and the former was back in the madhouse. This gave ‘The Flying Scotsman’ a potentially timely break. He pinned double 18 first time to win through to make it six legs on the spin.