Gary Anderson’s Shocking World Championship Exit Stuns Darts World
The Fall of a Champion at Alexandra Palace
Two-time world champion Gary Anderson crashed out of the World Darts Championship after a shock second-round loss to Jeffrey de Graaf at Alexandra Palace. The stunning upset on 22 December 2024 marked a dramatic end to what had been a resurgent year for the Scottish darts legend, known as ‘The Flying Scotsman’.
Anderson struggled throughout a one-sided contest against his unseeded opponent, winning only two legs and converting just three out of 20 attempts at double on his way to a straight-sets defeat against De Graaf. The defeat was particularly surprising given Anderson’s excellent form heading into the tournament.
A Year of Revival Cut Short
The 53-year-old had entered the tournament with genuine expectations of success. Two-time world champion Anderson has been in sensational form of late after rediscovering his love for darts, making it to the semi-finals of the Grand Slam where he lost to Luke Littler in an all-time classic match. The Grand Slam performance had showcased Anderson’s continued ability to compete at the highest level, where he established a commanding lead before narrowly losing to the eventual champion.
Anderson has won a hat-trick of PDC ranking titles in 2024, which included a memorable victory at April’s European Darts Grand Prix – ten years on from his maiden European Tour triumph. These victories demonstrated that the veteran remained a formidable force in professional darts.
A Historic Disappointment
The manner of the defeat made it even more difficult to accept for Anderson and his supporters. De Graaf breezed through the first two sets and broke Anderson again in the next, wrapping up a famous win to book a third-round meeting with Paolo Nebrida after Christmas. At the 2025 World Championship, Anderson suffered a shock 3–0 loss to Jeffrey de Graaf in the second round. This was the first time Anderson lost his opening match at the event.
Significance for Darts and Anderson’s Legacy
Nicknamed ‘the Flying Scotsman’, after the famous steam train, he is a two-time, back-to-back PDC World Champion, having won the title in 2015 and 2016. Despite this early exit, Anderson’s legacy as one of darts’ all-time greats remains secure. His smooth throwing style and heavy scoring have made him a fan favourite throughout his career.
For readers and darts enthusiasts, this result serves as a reminder of the sport’s unpredictability, where even the most experienced champions can fall to unseeded opponents. As the tournament continues without one of its legendary figures, the door opens wider for emerging talents whilst Anderson will reflect on what might have been in what was shaping up to be a memorable comeback season.