Scotland’s Gary Anderson has defeated long-time rival Michael van Gerwen to reach the quarter-finals of the PDC World Championships.
Having been part of the sport’s elite for over a decade, the pair’s fourth round match was highly anticipated and did not disappoint, with both men averaging over 99 points.
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Anderson, who won back-to-back world titles in 2015 and 2016, defeated 36-year-old Dutchman Van Gerwen, himself a three-time former champion and the third seed at this year’s event, in the first two sets.
Although last year’s runner-up came back from behind, the 55-year-old Anderson returned to form and sealed the victory with a 4-1 score to reach the quarterfinals of the World Championships for the first time in four years.
He will next face British prospect Justin Hood, who knocked out No. 11 seed Josh Locke 4-0 in the afternoon session.
Meanwhile, world number two Luke Humphries and Dutch tenth seed Gian van Veen won their respective last 16 matches 4-1 in Thursday’s quarter-finals.
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Unseeded Kevin Dotes of the Netherlands averaged over 111 points in the first set against England’s Humphries but was unable to maintain his stellar start.
The 2024 champion won 12 of the next 14 games, cruising to victory with an overall average of 103.07.
Humphreys told Sky Sports: “I feel like I fought well but I feel like there’s another level to me and that’s important. If you want to win this fight you’ve got to have another level because that’s not going to win you a world title.”
“Gian is a good player. He has changed a lot, he has worked hard on his game and now he is a top player.
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“If I can bring what I did tonight but a little more, I’ll give him a tough game. He’s definitely going to give me a tough game. That’s what darts is about and I’m looking forward to it.”
Van Veen earlier defeated 20-year-old British newcomer Charlie Manby 4-1 to reach the quarter-finals of the World Championships for the first time.
Debutant Hood continues dream run
Justin Hood (left) will receive at least £100,000 for his efforts at Alexandra Palace [Getty Images]
Against Northern Ireland World Cup champion Roark, Hood hit his first 11 doubles attempts but missed for the first time while trying to win the game at 143 points.
It was the first of four races he missed on the stage, but he got the job done the rest of the way, to the delight of the crowd, who chanted his name throughout.
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“I’ve never experienced anything [in terms of atmosphere] Love it,” the 32-year-old from Somerset told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“To have people chant your name like that and be on your side like that is an amazing feeling. Hopefully that continues.”
As Hood continued to hit the double, Rock could only shake his head and smile in disbelief from the back of the stage.
Hood has previously said he wants to use his World Championship earnings to open a Chinese restaurant, which currently earns him £100,000.
He was ranked 86th in the world when he started the tournament, and he temporarily entered the top 50 thanks to his victory over Northern Ireland’s Locke, who was considered a potential tournament champion.
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Earlier, Welsh fifth seed Jonny Clayton defeated the challenge of Swedish rookie Andreas Harrysson to draw with England’s Ryan Searle in the quarterfinals.
Harrison missed a chance in the fifth set to lead 3-2, and five of the six sets went to deciders.
Clayton’s 4-2 win means he temporarily moves up to fourth in the PDC world rankings, and will automatically qualify for next year’s Premier League if he is still in that position at the end of the game.
Poland’s Krzysztof Ratajski defeated No. 25 seed Luke Woodhouse by the same score and faced defending champion Luke Littler in the quarter-finals.
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Woodhouse finished with nine darts in the third set, missing a double-twelfth, which would have been the first perfect match of the tournament, but the Englishman won an extra £60,000.
Tuesday’s results
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Luke Woodhouse 2-4 Krzysztof Ratajski
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Jonny Clayton 4-2 Andreas Harrison
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Justin Hood 4-0 Josh Locke
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Charlie Manby 1-4 Gian van Veen
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Michael van Gerwen 1-4 Gary Anderson
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Luke Humphries 4-1 Kevin Dodds
Quarter-final draw
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Luke Littler(1) v Krzysztof Ratajski
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Ryan Sale(20) v Jonny Clayton(5)
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Luke Humphries(2) v Gian van Veen(10)
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Gary Anderson(14) v Justin Hood
All four quarter-final matches (best of nine sets) will be played on January 1, 2026
