Gary Anderson has made a triumphant return to the World Championship semi-finals for the first time in four years by ending the impressive run of debutant Justin Hood. The 55-year-old from Burnham-on-Sea is experiencing a remarkable renaissance, now just two victories away from claiming a third world title, a decade after his last triumph.
Should Anderson lift the trophy, he would become the oldest player ever to win the PDC World Championship and climb to second place alongside Michael van Gerwen on the all-time champions list. Fresh off a stunning victory against Van Gerwen on Tuesday, Anderson showed why he remains a formidable contender as he dispatched Hood 5-2 in the quarter-finals.
Next up for Anderson is either Luke Humphries or Gian van Veen in Friday’s semi-final, marking his eighth appearance at this stage at Alexandra Palace.
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Justin Hood, from Glastonbury, has been one of the breakout stars of the tournament, reaching the quarter-finals in his first Ally Pally appearance. Despite the loss, Hood’s £100,000 prize money will help him pursue his dream of opening a Chinese restaurant— a fitting reward for a remarkable debut campaign.
Ryan Searle has also secured his place in the last four. The 38-year-old from Tiverton, who previously played in the Wellington darts league, has not dropped a set en route to the quarter-finals, and he continued his impressive form by beating number five seed Jonny Clayton 5-2.
Searle’s journey is particularly inspiring given his struggle with Kjer’s optic neuropathy, a hereditary eye condition that severely affects his vision, at times preventing him from seeing where his darts land. “It’s a condition I’ve had all my life, but only recently received the diagnosis,” Searle shared. “I hope my performance inspires others who may have visual impairments to take up the game.”
Despite his visual challenges, Searle wears contact lenses to reduce blurriness, and his determination has been a highlight of this championship. His next opponent is likely to be Luke Littler, promising an exciting semi-final showdown.