2018 has been the year of the Flying Scotsman!
His brilliant win at the Champions League of Darts summed up what Anderson is all about. The new Unicorn NOIR darts doing the trick again.
His victories for the first time at the UK Open and World Matchplay were long overdue and of course, he added the US Masters title in Las Vegas.
Next on the Anderson hit list is the World Grand Prix in Dublin. He lost the 2016 final to Michael van Gerwen, but he will head to the City West Hotel full of confidence and belief after his brilliant weekend in Brighton.
“I’ll have a little rest before Dublin but I’ll be ready,” he said. “My back was a little sore on Sunday but nothing to worry about. I’m getting on you know! But I am enjoying playing and I’m enjoying the NOIR darts too!”
Anderson starts his bid against Welshman Jonny Clayton on the opening night in Dublin on September 30.
But that 140 finish to beat Van Gerwen in the deciding leg of their dramatic group match is one of THE shots of the year. Lose and he was out, and the win set the platform for the rest of the day at the Brighton Centre.
Mensur Suljovic and Peter Wright were no match for Anderson in that mood and he just never knows when the game is up. Who can forget the World Matchplay and that classic quarter-final when he hit a magical 9 darter and then survived match darts to beat fellow Unicorn star Joe Cullen.
Then of course the greatest final in the 25-year history of the event as he edged out Suljovic in an epic. When he is flying, he really does look unstoppable.
Remember, he is 48-years-old in December, but he is getting better and better!
The big ambition is a hat-trick of World Championship crowns, but there is plenty to play for before then with Dublin followed by the World Series Finals, Grand Slam and Players Championship Finals. Anderson certainly wants to tick a few more boxes.
And the way that he’s playing, more success is surely on the cards!
By STUART PYKE
