In a stunning turn of events, two-time PDC World Darts Champion Gary Anderson suffered a shocking second round upset loss to Dutchman Jeffrey de Graaf at the World Darts Championship on Sunday. Anderson, widely considered one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, looked uncharacteristically off his game as he bowed out in a lopsided 3-0 defeat.
The stunning result sent shockwaves through the darting world, as the Scottish legend and pre-tournament favorite struggled mightily throughout the match. Anderson managed to hit only 3 of his 20 attempts at a double, sealing his fate against the sharpshooting de Graaf.
De Graaf Seizes the Moment
For Jeffrey de Graaf, it was the biggest win of his career on the grandest stage in darts. The 30-year-old Dutchman rose to the occasion, taking advantage of Anderson’s uncharacteristically poor form to score the massive upset.
“It is great. Gary didn’t show up as he usually does but I am very happy with the win,” a thrilled de Graaf told Sky Sports after the match. “I got very nervous after the first set and when I was 2-0 up I was thinking ‘what is going on now?’ I am happy that I got through in the end.”
– Jeffrey de Graaf
De Graaf admitted to battling nerves after taking a commanding 2-0 set lead, hardly believing what was unfolding. But he held on to close out the straight sets victory and notch by far the biggest win of his darting life.
Anderson’s Nightmare
For Gary Anderson, it was a performance he will want to forget. The usually prolific scorer and ice-cold finisher looked out of sorts from the start, consistently missing doubles and letting de Graaf off the hook.
Anderson’s scoring power was still evident, but his inability to close out legs ultimately cost him. While he did manage a few flashes of brilliance, they were few and far between as the Dutchman applied relentless pressure.
It was evident that it simply wasn’t Anderson’s day. The frustration mounted as his usually reliable doubles deserted him when he needed them most. In the end, he could only applaud his opponent as he exited the stage much earlier than anyone anticipated.
Changing of the Guard?
With Anderson now 52 years of age, questions will inevitably arise about whether this shocking loss signals a changing of the guard in darts. While still a formidable force, “The Flying Scotsman” isn’t getting any younger in a sport increasingly trending towards youth.
- de Graaf, 22 years Anderson’s junior, showcased the poise and clinical finishing of a possible future champion
- Several other young talents have made waves this year, including 18-year-old WDF World Champion Luke Littler
- Anderson was joined by several other darting legends suffering early exits, including Raymond van Barneveld
But if anyone knows not to count out a champion like Gary Anderson, it’s Gary Anderson himself. This is a man who has won over 25 titles in his illustrious career, including two world championships. Time and time again, he has shown the resilience to bounce back from adversity.
For now though, the darting world marvels at the arrival of Jeffrey de Graaf. The unheralded Dutchman announced his presence with a signature win for the ages. If this is a sign of things to come, we could be witnessing the birth of a new star in the sport.
