Skip to main content
BBC SPORT / DARTS
Graphics Version | BBC News Home
Sport Homepage | Football | Formula 1 | Olympics | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Athletics | Cycling | Motorsport | Boxing | Snooker | Horse Racing | Disability Sport | Other sport... | Sports Personality | TV/Radio Schedule | Sport Academy | Fun and Games | Inside Sport | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Other sport... Contents:  American Football | Badminton | Baseball | Basketball | Bowls | Darts | Equestrian | Gymnastics | Hockey | Ice Hockey | Netball | Rowing | Sailing | Shooting | Squash | Swimming | Table Tennis | Triathlon | Weightlifting | Winter Sports

19:43 GMT, Tuesday, 6 January 2009

Below-par Anderson into quarters

BDO World Darts Championship, Frimley Green, 3-11 January
Coverage: Live on BBC TV, Red Button and BBC Sport website

Top seed Gary Anderson battled into the BDO World Championship quarter-finals with 4-2 victory against Robert Hughes.

Welshman Hughes, making his debut at the age of 42, finished brilliantly to come from behind and take a 2-1 lead.

But Scotland's Anderson showed all his class and came storming back to wrap up the win with double tops.

The 2008 runner-up Simon Whitlock lost 4-2 to Darryl Fitton, while Stockport veteran Tony O'Shea made the last eight with a 4-0 whitewash of Edwin Max.

Despite needing three attempts at double three to take the opening leg, Anderson wrapped up the opening set against Hughes in a just six minutes.

But Hughes fought back to clinch the second set 3-1, requiring just one dart for each winning double, and the third with double tops.

Anderson missed two attempts for double two before taking the fourth set 3-1 to level the match and then capitalised on Hughes' first missed double of the game en route to the fifth.

The Scot wrapped up victory in 47 minutes but described his performance as "absolute rubbish."

"In practice I hit two nine darters. The problem is that I play darts, perhaps I need to take up tiddlywinks," said Anderson.

"I am a good tournament floor or pub player. I prefer to be in the shadows and really do not being like on stage in the limelight with the cameras but I know I have to do it because it is my job.

"But trust me I do not enjoy it. However, once I kick in during a game I do kick in.

Fifth seed Fitton came from behind to beat 12th seed Whitlock in a hard-fought encounter which included 16 180s, an 11 and two 12-darters.

The "Wizard of Oz" Whitlock produced a 12-darter to take the opening set 3-0 before Fitton levelled by taking the second set 3-0, finishing off with a double top.

Whitlock went back ahead but Fitton won the next three sets to claim victory.

"That was not my best darts and I didn't feel I played very well actually," said Fitton. "Last year I tipped Simon to win the title so to beat the runner-up of 12 months ago was extremely satisfying.

606: DEBATE
"O'Shea looked pretty handy on tonight's performance"
eyegone

"After Simon hit big scores in the last but one leg of the match I did my worrying about the deciding fifth leg and knew what I needed to do.

"If I had not won that leg, I don't think I would have won the match."

Ninth seed O'Shea produced eight 180s to thrash Dutchman Max, the 42-year-old seldom troubled by the player from the Hague.

He made the perfect opening with a 180 to set the tone for the match and never looked back.

"I was expecting a tougher match," said O'Shea. "Edwin is a great player but did not really play well in the second half of the match."

"I broke him in the first two sets and really enjoyed the match. I believe there is plenty more left in the tank."

Fourth seed Scott Waites also moved into the quarter-finals, whitewashing Swedish number one Alan Norris 4-0.

The pair served up an entertaining encounter with Waites hitting nine 180s in the 33-minute clash.

Extensive coverage of the Lakeside World Darts Championships will feature on BBC TV and the BBC Sport website.



E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:

Nervy Adams edges into round two (05 Jan 09 |  Darts )
Champion Webster eases through (04 Jan 09 |  Darts )
Anderson edges into second round (03 Jan 09 |  Darts )
BDO World Championships draw (05 Jan 09 |  Darts )
Darts on the BBC (10 Apr 08 |  Darts )
Darts results (12 Oct 00 |  Darts )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Darts on the BBC
British Darts Organisation
Lakeside World Darts
World Darts Federation
Martin Adams official site
Have your say on Darts - 606
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC SPORT: 

Sport Homepage | Football | Formula 1 | Olympics | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Athletics | Cycling | Motorsport | Boxing | Snooker | Horse Racing | Disability Sport | Other sport... | Sports Personality | TV/Radio Schedule | Sport Academy | Fun and Games | Inside Sport | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Other sport... Contents:  American Football | Badminton | Baseball | Basketball | Bowls | Darts | Equestrian | Gymnastics | Hockey | Ice Hockey | Netball | Rowing | Sailing | Shooting | Squash | Swimming | Table Tennis | Triathlon | Weightlifting | Winter Sports

^ Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage | Feedback | Help | ©