On New Year’s Day, two players will meet: Justin Hood and Gary Anderson, whose sporting careers could hardly be more different. Anderson absolutely wants to avoid another thrashing from the World Cup sensation.
More than a few darts fans have probably wondered in recent days who on earth Justin Hood is and how this supposedly unknown player managed to knock top players Danny Noppert and Josh Rock out of the World Cup tournament.
The likeable Englishman with the penguin fishing hat, who goes by the nickname “Happy Feet”, had only earned his PDC Tour Card in January 2025 and thus started his darts career. Barely a year later, the 32-year-old is deservedly in the World Cup quarter-finals after a sensational run, where he will meet a true legend of the sport.
Justin Hood meets Gary Anderson in the World Cup quarter-finals
Hood clearly defeated Anderson before
Late on Tuesday evening, it became clear to Hood that he would face two-time world champion Gary Anderson on New Year’s Day. It won’t be the first time the two crowd favorites face each other; at Players Championship 17 in June, Anderson suffered a 2-6 thrashing in their direct duel.
“He’s no underdog. I know him, and I know how good he is,” Anderson explained after his 4-1 victory over Michael van Gerwen in an interview with SPORT1 . When asked about the 2-6 defeat on the Pro Tour, the Scot admitted he had been “properly beaten up.” The 55-year-old will therefore by no means underestimate Hood, as he later clarified at the press conference. “Everyone says: Who is Justin Hood? But he is a very, very good darts player.”
Hood’s madness against Josh Rock
Hood particularly demonstrated this in the World Cup round of 16 against Josh Rock, hitting all of his first eleven attempts at the doubles against the Northern Irishman and finishing the match with a double percentage of 75 percent.
“My doubles were great, I’m happy. In practice, my scoring was great, but my doubles weren’t quite there yet. I trained doubles for an hour – and it paid off,” Hood admitted. “I’ve never experienced anything like it. It’s an incredible feeling when people call your name.”
Hood: “I want this trophy”
In the PDC Order of Merit, the likeable Englishman has already climbed 36 (!) places and is ranked 50th before the World Cup quarter-finals. Opponent Anderson is in eleventh place in the rankings – but will have to stretch himself against Hood.
“If Gary wants to win against me, he has to earn it. I want the trophy,” Hood said combatively.
He has put a lot of time and effort into darts in recent weeks and months, something he didn’t do before. “I was very lazy this year. I did what I always do: trained for half an hour. But now I’ve put a lot of time into it, training four to five hours in recent weeks.”
In an interview with SPORT1 , Anderson issued a challenge to his opponent – albeit with a wink. “I should kick him in the kneecap before we even go on stage.”