Gary Anderson has dismissed talk of retirement once again as he sets about fulfilling his pledge to win a third World Championship title.
There had been speculation a various points throughout 2020 that the Flying Scotsman was ready to walk away from the sport, which has seen him win nine major titles and countless other crowns throughout a glittering career.
But the 50-year-old has banished those rumours by signing a new long-term contract with top darts manufacturer Unicorn, with a promise to be crowned king at the Alexandra Palace for a third time.
He said: "I will win another for sure! I have that hunger and desire back and despite everything, I still love playing this game. I’m old school and just want to play darts the way it should be played and I want to prove a point to all the doubters but more importantly to myself."
Anderson, who lost to new world number one Gerwyn Price in the final of the 2021 World Championship and was also the 2020 World Matchplay runner-up to Dimitri Van den Bergh, said: “The last year has been tough for everyone but it is time for me to take up the challenge with Unicorn in my corner. They have stood by me for over a decade and it is the perfect partnership all round.
“I really savour the combat on the big stages in the big tournaments. In the last few months I managed to get to the two biggest finals at the World Matchplay and World Championship without playing well. I truly believe if I can get to anywhere near my best, I will be a major threat.
“There isn’t just one dominating. We all know how good Michael van Gerwen is but nobody is scared of him anymore. Price is a deserved World Champion. Peter Wright will still be challenging. Jose de Sousa has already proved how good he is and I’m a big fan of Nathan Aspinall, while Joe Cullen and Devon Petersen are now in the mix."
Anderson’s new Phase 5 Code darts will be available from Unicorn later in 2021.
Career honours
GARY ANDERSON
Major PDC titles
- 2011 Premier League (10-4 v Adrian Lewis)
- 2014 Players Championship Finals (11-6 v Adrian Lewis)
- 2015 World Darts Championship (7-6 v Phil Taylor)
- 2015 Premier League (11-7 v Michael van Gerwen)
- 2016 World Darts Championship (7-5 v Adrian Lewis)
- 2018 UK Open (11-7 v Corey Cadby)
- 2018 World Matchplay (21-19 v Mensur Suljovic)
- 2018 Champions League of Darts (11-4 v Peter Wright)
- 2019 World Cup of Darts (3-1 v Ireland)
Major runner-up
- 2010 UK Open (5-11 v Phil Taylor)
- 2011 World Championship (5-7 v Adrian Lewis)
- 2011 Players Championship Finals (12-13 v Phil Taylor)
- 2011 Grand Slam of Darts (4-16 v Phil Taylor)
- 2015 European Championship (10-11 v Michael van Gerwen)
- 2016 World Grand Prix (2-5 v Michael van Gerwen)
- 2017 World Championship (3-7 v Michael van Gerwen)
- 2017 Masters (7-11 v Michael van Gerwen)
- 2017 Champions League of Darts (9-11 v Mensur Suljovic)
- 2017 World Series of Darts Finals (6-11 v Michael van Gerwen)
- 2018 Grand Slam of Darts (13-16 v Gerwyn Price)
- 2020 World Matchplay (10-18 v Dimitri Van den Bergh)
Other PDC TV titles
- 2016 Dubai Darts Masters (11-9 v Michael van Gerwen)
- 2016 Auckland Darts Masters (11-7 v Adrian Lewis)
- 2016 Tokyo Darts Masters (8-6 v Michael van Gerwen)
- 2017 Dubai Darts Masters (11-7 v Michael van Gerwen)
- 2017 Perth Darts Masters (11-7 v Raymond van Barneveld)
- 2018 US Darts Masters (8-4 v Rob Cross)
Non-Televised PDC titles
- 2014 German Darts Championship (2014)
- Players Championship x 24 (2009, 2010 x3, 2011 x5, 2014 x5, 2015 x2, 2016, 2017 x3, 2018 x3, 2020)
- UK Open Qualifiers x 6 (2010, 2011 x2), 2014, 2016, 2018)
