"I want to give him such a hammering on that stage": Gary Anderson wants to play till 60 to face son Tai

Gary Anderson reminded the Alexandra Palace crowd and perhaps himself most of all that he remains a force on the sport’s biggest stage after producing a superb performance at the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship.

Averaging over 105 in a high quality contest, the two time world champion combined heavy scoring with timely finishing to overcome a spirited challenge from Connor Scutt, booking his place in the next round and delivering a timely reminder that experience still counts.

Despite the headline numbers, Anderson was quick to point out that the performance could have been even better. “Anyone’s good nowadays,” he said post match to the media. “But I think there were a couple of legs there where a good half dozen throws were 60 and under, so the average could have been better.”

What pleased him most, however, was how his game settled as the match wore on. “The first set was going well but I couldn’t hit a double,” Anderson explained. “In the second set they started to go in, and when you start hitting doubles the confidence goes up a bit.”

Anderson has continued to post strong performances on the Pro Tour and European Tour, but translating that form to the World Championship stage has not always been straightforward in recent years. This display, though, was further evidence that he still believes he belongs among the elite. “Just winning a game nowadays is good,” he said. “But yeah, it can still be done. People think it’s a young man’s game, it’s not. I can still do it.”

Preparation, he revealed, has come in an unconventional form, thanks largely to his son Tai. “We came up on Saturday, so me and Tai have been in the room for the last three days, and he’s been dragging me out for a throw, playing 1 2 1,” Anderson laughed. “He’s addicted to it. It’s got me out of the room instead of just sitting there, rocking back and forward on the end of my bed.”

Anderson was generous in defeat for his opponent, praising Connor Scutt’s work ethic and long term prospects. “Connor’s a fantastic player,” he said. “He’s a grafter, he’s a worker, and he’s only going to go up in time. He’ll be gutted tonight, but he’s got a lot more shots at this than what I have.”

He also highlighted the growing depth of talent coming through the sport, referencing a classic involving Danny Noppert and Justin Hood. “A lot of people don’t know about Justin,” Anderson added, “but I’ll tell you what, he’s a serious dart player. One of the nicest blokes on the planet, and he’s going to be good.”

Next up for Anderson is a meeting with Jermaine Wattimena, a match that on paper promises fireworks, though Anderson remained characteristically cautious.

“Every time you say that, it’s usually a bundle of guff,” he joked. “You say Anderson versus van Gerwen, it’s meant to be a great game and it’s rubbish.”

Still, he acknowledged Wattimena’s rise over the past two years. “Over the last 18 to 24 months he’s gone from here to there,” Anderson said. “His darts have been absolutely fantastic, so that’s another hard one.”

The victory came just a day after Anderson celebrated his birthday, adding an extra layer of satisfaction to the performance. “The Scotsman can still play darts, now and again,” he smiled. “I love the tournament but hate it at the same time, because I’m always a year older every time I come here.”

He also revealed that a return to familiar equipment has played a key role in his resurgence.

“I’ve gone back to my old stems and flights, and I’ve been determined to stick with them,” he explained. “Tonight they did exactly what I know they can do.”

While much of the pre tournament focus has been on Luke Littler and Luke Humphries, Anderson remains unconcerned by the narrative. “I’m too old, carry on, talk away,” he said. “I’m just here to chuck darts.”

He did, however, acknowledge the standard being set at the very top. “They’re the two best players in the world by far,” he admitted. “It’s like the old days when everyone was chasing Taylor, now everyone’s chasing those two.”

Asked about the struggles of his World Cup team mate Peter Wright, Anderson was quick to defend him and the wider profession.

“We can’t play well all the time. People think we’re robots,” he said. “You have a bad couple of games and suddenly you’re finished, you’re retiring. Just give folk a break.”

Drawing comparisons with Michael van Gerwen, Anderson stressed that dips in form are inevitable.

“We can’t do it day after day, month after month, year after year. It’d be nice, but we just can’t.”

One of the most striking changes in Anderson’s approach is his relationship with the big stage itself. Once crippled by nerves, he now feels far more at ease.

“There were times I remember being sick in one of the staff’s hoover boxes,” he admitted. “Violently sick before going on stage. Now it just doesn’t kick in anymore.”

While media duties remain something he could do without, his love for the game is undiminished, especially with Tai now following in his footsteps.

“I do like playing darts,” Anderson said. “Tai’s playing now, so I need to show a bit more interest and kick him up the backside and get him a bit better.”

Questions about retirement have followed Anderson for years, but he remains motivated by doubt, particularly from familiar voices.

“It used to be Wayne Mardle,” he laughed. “He’d say, ‘That’s it, he’s done.’ Oh, is that right? Don’t think so, son. That’s what used to get me going.”

For Anderson, age is irrelevant, and he points to Paul Lim as the ultimate example.

“He’s 71 years old, fantastic,” Anderson said. “He just loves playing darts and he’s still bloody good. He’s an absolute legend. Age doesn’t matter.”

Could he still be playing in his seventies? “I'd like to” he smiled. “If Tai’s good enough to play on that stage when he’s 16, I’ll be 60, so we’ll try to do it. I just want to give him such a hammering on that stage."

Reflecting on how far the sport has come, Anderson contrasted today’s prize money with his early days. “I think it was a chicken hamper and a free set of darts,” he recalled. “You’d lose in a semi final and get a set of Elkmaster darts. That was your prize.”

Now, with record sums on offer and youngsters flooding into the game, Anderson sees darts as healthier than ever. “It’s humongous now,” he said. “I do exhibitions and instead of old boys from the pub, you’re playing six to twelve year olds. That tells you everything.”

With numerous top seeds already eliminated, Anderson believes the results reflect the reality of modern darts. “The averages haven’t been great,” he said. “There’s been a lot of under 90 averages winning games. We’re not robots. Sometimes these things happen. It’ll pick up. I’m sure it will.”