Flying Scotsman wins World Darts Championship

GARY Anderson secured his place among the darting elite as he retained his PDC World Championship crown with an entertaining victory over Adrian Lewis on Sunday January 3. 

The ‘Flying Scotsman’ won his debut world title last year, beating the legendary Phil Taylor, and the 45-year-old followed up that spectacular victory with a 7-5 win over his battling English rival to win £300,000 and even more professional respect. 

He checked out on the last set with a spectacular 170 finish leaving Lewis heartbroken as his fighting comeback was crushed at the end.

Anderson recognised the toughness of the challenge, “it was a scrape from the word go. There were some good darts, and some really bad ones. I’m getting old, I’ll take a scrape. I’ve got it for another 12 months at least.” Lewis meanwhile was dejected in defeat but will surely bounce back, “When I took the lead, I thought come on, hit him, but he came back… it was a strange game, that. I’ve got to put the demons behind me and get on with the job”.

Anderson becomes only the fourth player to successfully defend his debut title, joining Eric Bristow, Jocky Wilson and his erstwhile opponent Adrian Lewis in that particular hall of fame.