logo
Two-time world champion fires dig at Luke Littler and Co with damning verdict of darts' ‘boring' new stars

Two-time world champion fires dig at Luke Littler and Co with damning verdict of darts' ‘boring' new stars

The Sun4 days ago
GARY ANDERSON has called on darts players to 'have fun' again after slamming the sport's new stars as 'boring'.
The Flying Scotsman, 54, beat Luke Woodhouse 10-5 in the first round at the World Matchplay on Sunday - but he was far from chipper in his post-match interview.
2
Fresh off his victory, Anderson was asked by Darts Now if him being only the third seed to get through the tournament shows how much the sport has changed, given it used to be all the same faces reaching the later stages before.
And the Scotsman took his opportunity to bring up the shift in darts in his response, even calling out younger players for "walking round with 'their bloody headphones in'.
He said: 'I was sitting thinking the other day, having a talk with [Ian] White, [Adrian] Lewis, [Phil] Taylor, [Kevin] Painter, we used to sit and have a cracking laugh.
'Nowadays, I'd rather sit like this. Nobody talks to anybody. You don't have a good laugh, you don't have a bit of banter. You need to have a laugh.
'Doesn't matter what you do in life, on a building site, office, you've always got to have a laugh. Nowadays, there's not much of that going about.'
He continued: 'The youngsters are boring. Absolutely boring.
'You talk to them, they're too busy looking at their phone.
'They're sitting on their phones with their bloody earphones in. Don't talk to you. It's a completely different life.'
The 2015 and 2016 PDC World Championships winner is competing with Luke Littler and the other new wave of darts players at the World Matchplay Darts.
18-year-old Littler - who narrowly missed out on a competition record over the weekend - has already earned a crazy amount of money since his rise to fame 18 months ago.
And while Anderson understands the new stars are making sure they reap the rewards of the rise of darts' popularity, he still wants them to let loose now and again.
He said: 'The youngsters, they're here to do their job. They've realised they've got a great chance in life to make a lot of bloody money, buy their first house, then their second house.
'But they need to calm down and think: right, this is my job. That's it.'
Anderson's next opponent in the Matchplay will be either Ryan Joyce or Stephen Bunting. He faces the winner of their first-round match, which takes place on Tuesday.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Why TV dance star made last-minute withdrawal from live show
Why TV dance star made last-minute withdrawal from live show

The Independent

time10 hours ago

  • The Independent

Why TV dance star made last-minute withdrawal from live show

Janette Manrara, a former Strictly Come Dancing professional, was forced to pull out of a live performance of the musical Chicago on Wednesday, 23 July. Manrara is currently starring as Roxie Hart in the UK tour of Chicago, which is performing at Blackpool's Winter Gardens. She announced on Instagram that she was "unwell" and needed to rest to recover quickly, expressing deep apologies to the audience. Manrara reassured fans that she is "on the mend" and hopes to return to the stage soon, praising the rest of the cast for their performance. Since leaving her professional dancing role on Strictly in 2021, Manrara has co-presented the spin-off show It Takes Two.

Oleksandr Usyk's next opponent lined up days after Dubois victory
Oleksandr Usyk's next opponent lined up days after Dubois victory

The Independent

time10 hours ago

  • The Independent

Oleksandr Usyk's next opponent lined up days after Dubois victory

Oleksandr Usyk has been officially ordered by the WBO to face Joseph Parker, his mandatory challenger, for the heavyweight title. The WBO issued a statement on Thursday, 24 July, giving both parties 30 days to negotiate an agreement before proceeding to a purse bid. Usyk regained his undisputed heavyweight status by defeating Daniel Dubois for the second time on Saturday, 19 July, at Wembley Stadium. Joseph Parker secured his WBO interim title by knocking out Martin Bakole in February, following the cancellation of his bout with Dubois. Usyk has the option to relinquish the WBO title to avoid the fight, a strategy he previously employed by giving up the IBF title to facilitate his rematch with Tyson Fury.

FA issue England manager warning ahead of Euros final
FA issue England manager warning ahead of Euros final

The Independent

time10 hours ago

  • The Independent

FA issue England manager warning ahead of Euros final

The Football Association (FA) is determined to retain Sarina Wiegman as England manager, with chief executive Mark Bullingham stating she is "not for sale" at any price. Wiegman has reached five consecutive major tournament finals, including the last three with the Lionesses, and will lead them in the Euro 2025 final against world champions Spain. Her current contract with the FA extends until the end of the 2027 Women's World Cup, and Bullingham expressed confidence in keeping her in charge. Bullingham praised Wiegman as a "special coach" for her exceptional tournament record, work with players, and ability to maintain a cool head in critical moments. He dismissed suggestions that Wiegman should be considered for the England men's job, asserting it is disrespectful to view the men's role as more senior.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store