Gary Anderson stunned by Jeffrey de Graaf, loses at opening hurdle for first time ever at PDC World Darts Championship

There is certainly something in the air at the Alexandra Palace tonight as yet another huge names has fallen in Gary Anderson in a dismal night on the outer ring in particular for the two-time World Champion that Jeffrey de Graaf took great delight in pouncing on.

Anderson was expected to fly through his section but instead we have the task of De Graaf v Nebrida for a spot in the Last 16 of the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship and also an open section of sorts for Michael van Gerwen now to navigate. Darts has been very much unpredictable in 2024 and it continues to take another twist.

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It is Anderson's birthday today and it seemed to be that he was more hell bent on handing out his own gifts to De Graaf in the early stages as he watched the former Dutchman who now plays for Sweden wrap up the opening set 3-1 with a 97.2 and 3/4 on the doubles as he set alarm bells ringing early on.

It went from bad to worse for Anderson as his tally of missed doubles soon surged towards 20 sitting at 16 and this allowed the Swede to wrap up the second set without reply and mean that Anderson had one set to get it back or he'd be going home.

De Graaf held to start the third set as did Anderson with an 11-darter that offered some sign of life. But De Graaf pinned a 52 checkout for a 14-darter to go one away so it was now or never. Anderson sent it all the way with De Graaf waiting to seal the win.

He was nowhere near on De Graaf's throw to stay in it as the Swede hit a 76 checkout pinpoint on double 18 to seal the biggest win of the tournament so far. Nebrida was the best until no was Ross Smith and now Gary Anderson are out in succession.

After also Martin Schindler headed home to start the night, will Dimitri van den Bergh make it a miserable clean sweep for the seeds?