Gian van Veen and Gary Anderson engaged in a high-class duel in the Darts World Championship semi-final – especially in the fifth set. Experts were gushing.
It was a key moment in the epic semi-final thriller between Gian van Veen and Gary Anderson. The fifth set of the high-class duel had several highlights to offer – only a 9-darter was missing.
“A set for the gods,” marveled Sky commentator Wayne Mardle: “This is unbelievable. Anderson played 117 points and it wasn’t good enough.”
Gary Anderson clutches his forehead
Darts World Championship: Anderson opens epic set with a 10-darter
Anderson, who ultimately lost 3:6 in sets, found himself 1:3 down at the beginning of the said leg. He therefore needed this set win – and started aggressively accordingly.
Right at the start, the “Flying Scotsman” managed a break against the Dutchman with a 10-darter in the first leg.
It was the start of a memorable set that Ally Pally will not soon forget.
Big Fish Festival at the Darts World Championship
In the second leg, Anderson delivered the next highlight with the Big Fish – the largest possible finish in darts with 170 points.
But van Veen didn’t hold back either. First, he held his throw with eleven darts, then he also managed the Big Fish for the break and leveled the legs at 2:2.
The set was suddenly completely opened again.
Anderson plays an average of 117.44 – and loses the set
In the decider, the Dutchman finally held his nerve and pulled away to 4:1. Particularly bitter for Anderson: even a three-dart average of 117.44 points was not enough to win the set.
SPORT1 expert Robert Marijanovic was also amazed: “It’s an incredible game. Phenomenal – really. People are writing to me telling me to calm down. Friends, just look at these numbers – who on earth is supposed to calm down? This is madness. This is one of the best World Championship semi-finals of all time, just by the way. Unbelievable. This is no longer darts, this is art.”
In the Darts World Championship final on Saturday, van Veen will now meet defending champion Luke Littler.