Gary Anderson, the seasoned Scottish darts star, didn’t hold back in a blistering critique of darts influencers following his first-round victory at the Winmau World Masters. At 55 years old and ranked world No. 6, Anderson used a post-match media briefing to express his frustration with the rise of social media “influencers” advising young players.
“I’m a darts player, not someone who sits around telling stories on YouTube,” Anderson said bluntly. “I see all these influencers teaching how to play darts. I’ve never seen some of them before, and when I do, they’re terrible at the game. So why watch them?”
Anderson did not mince words. He described these personalities as “absolute wastes” and told young players to ignore their expensive setups and advice. “Kids can get a decent set of darts for £20, play the game, and enjoy it. They don’t need thousands spent on fancy darts or to follow some influencer’s rubbish,” he said.
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Although Anderson didn’t specify which influencers he was condemning, his remarks come shortly after popular YouTuber and “I’m a Celebrity” winner Morgan “Angry Ginge” Burtwistle announced plans to join the PDC Qualifying School—a gateway to professional darts for players aged 16 and older.
Matthew Edgar, a former professional player, welcomed the move on the Mission Darts Podcast. “If ‘Angry Ginge’ can show progress, it’ll prove darts is a real journey accessible to many. That’s great for the sport,” Edgar noted.
Anderson’s focus now shifts to his next match against James Wade in the second round of the tournament. After a rocky start—losing the first set to Niels Zonneveld 2-0—Anderson fought back, clinching a 3-2 victory by taking control in the final stages of the match.