Scots former pub team player narrowly misses out on top prize

FORMER pub darts player Gary Anderson cemented his reputation among the sport's elite last night - despite missing out on becoming world champion.

The 40-year-old Scot lost 7-5 to Adrian Lewis - who claimed the prestigious PDC World Championship for the first time - and a cheque for £200,000.

About a million TV viewers tuned in to the final at the Alexandra Palace in London.

Anderson picked up £100,000 for his troubles, capping a stunning rise for the Borders ace, who started his career playing county and league darts on the pub circuit.

And punters at bars where he made his name - including Pennies Bar in Falkirk and the King's Head in Berwick - were among the thousands of Scots cheering him against Lewis.

Anderson had been bidding to become the third Scot to rule the world after Jocky Wilson and Les Wallace.

He would have been the first man from north of the Border to claim the ultra-competitive Professional Darts Corporation title fought over by 15-time world champ Phil Taylor and Dutchman Raymond van Barneveld.

Pennies owner Carol Byrne said last night : "Gary is an amazing guy and we are all extremely proud of him.

"Every time he comes back here, he gives us a free exhibition and hopefully he'll still do that.

"He never forgets his roots and he has not changed a bit over the years - apart from getting more tattoos."

Anderson, who runs a pub in Rooksbridge, Somerset, has long been one of the biggest scorers in the game.

But time and again, major glory eluded him because he failed to finish under pressure. Yet, following a switch of ruling organisation from the BDO to the PDC in 2009, and a rapid climb through the rankings, he was just a few throws away from being darts' top dog.

Originally from Musselburgh, East Lothian, Anderson moved to Eyemouth, Berwickshire, as a young man after meeting future wife Rosemary, who he is now separated from.

His initial preference was for pool and snooker but he picked up a set of darts in the bar of a local caravan site and became hooked.

However, it was a pub a few miles across the Border in Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland, which was to enjoy the benefit of his talents for a decade.

King's Head owner Iain Stewart met Anderson around 12 years ago when he popped into the bar to take part in a darts competition he was running over the winter.

The Scot won it then came back the following night to ask if he could play in the pub's team.

Iain recalled: "He asked my wife Linda if we were looking for players but she was suspicious and told him we weren't going to pay his expenses for coming from Eyemouth.

"I don't know why he came, maybe he just liked the atmosphere of the pub, but he was made more than welcome.

"He's a quiet lad but a nice lad and since then, I have followed him all over Britain."

Iain added: "Even 12 years ago, he was a standout player.

"He could hit hundreds for fun but his problem was that when he got below 100, he couldn't count.

Gary is a talented player who has problems shooting under pressure.

Has his time passed? I think this year is the turning point -one way or the other. A shoulda, coulda, woulda ?

Well he is a great scorer when he is on form but seems to have moments where he just cant finish and that costs him. Not really sure if he will ever win the worlds though, there is some tough competition and its no easy task playing your best darts throughout it. Andy Hamilton this year put in a very gutsy and gritty performance and never gave up, sadly he seemed a little spent come the final, but I think it needs that kind of determination for a player to get to the final now. They just cannot afford to switch off which is what seems to happen with Gary Anderson at times.

He always on the short list for the big events just doesnt seem to happen. So inconsistant One game 110 plus average next 80 odd.

agree with Trouble. His scoring can be amazing but not reflect in his average because he is shooting 14% on doubles

To me he is in the same zone as Barney is now, he has the potential but is not fulfilling it for some reason.

Flakey performance

SilverSaber wrote:

Has his time passed?

i don't think he has ever had a "time" to begin with. the only reason i can see why anyone likes him is because hes scottish and isn't taylor. everytime he shows up on the telly its always "scotland vs england" or scottish flags in the audience. give the scots someone to cheer for, like barney with the dutch. but then again this just my 2 cents as a newcomer to the pdc and televised darts.

don't worry fellas, this observation is coming from a stocky ginger bearded scot descendent who owns a kilt. if you saw me out and about, you wouldn't be able to see past my scot lineage haha ;)

Ando needs to work out his doubles.. Great scorer but terrible finisher

madzkymadz wrote:

Ando needs to work out his doubles.. Great scorer but terrible finisher

I agree with that, terrible on out shots.

so why is he so bad on doubles at crucial moments?

I still think that Gary could improve, its not that hard to be better on the doubles, the only problem I have with Gary are that he are so damn lazy! And thats something he himself have said.

He doesnt bother training. But maybe a few more setbacks will get into his head and he begins realising that he will not win the big things if he doesn't hit the practiceboard more often.

I think that the problems with doubles under pressure are that he hasn't build up any confidence in doubles without the pressure. He knows he struggles on the doubles, and I think that haunts him when he has double left AND some pressure.

Come on lad, get training and win a major (Not PL!!!) like we all know you have the ability to!!

Cheers!

mmmmmm... Scottish whiskey

Well he wants a kick up the backside then silly not to practice when you have a great talent like that!

If he could double his hit rate on the doubles he would take some beating when hes in full flow ! As said before its silly not to practice your weak points after all big scores dont win games doubles do ! Perhaps we should e mail him and suggest he enrols in flight school !!

yep flight school for Gary

I think if he had getagrips picture to aim at, he'd score everytime!!

chrisbamb wrote:

I think if he had getagrips picture to aim at, he'd score everytime!!

Or the knuckle head dream guy hahhahaha

After the Painter match this last week, he might just wake up and start practicing. An hour a day until he "loses the plot" just won't cut it. I practice 2-3 hours a day on average and I'm a hacker in a pub.

If he ever decides to really want to win he'll be unbeatable. Lewis will be chasing him. But until he makes that choice he'll be relying on talent alone. As an old mentor of mine once said, "Talent is a flame that burns bright and beautiful, but burns out quickly. Craft is an ember that burns slowly and keeps you warm at night."

He's got to stoke the craft if he wants to be a champion. And that takes a commitment to putting in the hours.

Well said Chalk! And what a great quote. Would make a great signature.

Great quote Chalk!!

Yeah I feel a bit disgusted at Anderson though for not making the most of what he has, how can he have such a talent yet not bother to fully utilize it?

Thats the difference between being a Bristow , Lowe or a Taylor in my opinion , They all totally immerse themselves in there game to be the best that they can be , Practice was / is never an option but an essential part of daily life !
He seems like a county player who has got to the big stage and doesnt know or cant be bothered to improve his game to take it to the next level !! As a dart player of any level we all have weak spots , Some more than others but we try and eliminate these through practice on the weak areas ie doubles so why doesnt he ? Hes got the ability to go much further than he has and it seems to me he has all the ingredients to be a great player but just cant be arsed ! In my opinion hes not a nearly man even but more an also ran !!! And its nobody's fault but his own !

Yeah good point Andy!

Well, I think you all know my opinions about Gary so I won't go into great length here about him, but just to add to the practicing point. He did up his practice from 1 hour to 4 hours for the World Championships, however, he made the fatal mistake of partnering himself with Justin Pipe, which to me is a waste of time. He said himself that he got bored waiting for Pipe to throw, so why have him as a practice partner in the first place??

There is no argument that this guy has immense talent and I do get quite vociferous about his waste of it. He's too easily distracted, had no concentration and when he plays Taylor he just looks like a deer caught in the headlights.

USMC80 wrote:

Well said Chalk! And what a great quote. Would make a great signature.

It would wouldn't it. Done!

Nicely done Chalk