GARY ANDERSON used to be “violently sick” before going out on stage to throw darts in front of millions of people on TV.
Once he was so riddled with nerves and anxiety that he threw up in a cleaner’s hoover box backstage.
But these days the veteran takes it all in his stride as he looks to become Scotland’s greatest oche star of all time.
The two-time world champion is up against Dutch speedster Jermaine Wattimena on Sunday afternoon – his 68th game at Ally Pally – in the third round.
It is four years since he got to the quarter-final stage and beyond but Anderson is a more relaxed figure in front of the cameras now.
The Flying Scotsman, 55, revealed: “There were times I can remember being sick in one of the staff’s hoover boxes.
“I used to get so sick with nerves before I went out on stage.
“Every time I was outside being proper violently sick.
“Now it’s like, nah, you know what? It just doesn’t kick in now.
“I do enjoy it. I don’t enjoy the media part.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
“I do like playing darts. My son Tai plays darts now and I have to show more interest, kick him up the backside and get him a bit better.”
Anderson also revealed this week that he aims to play on until he is 60 years old so that he can face his son, 11, on the Ally Pally stage.
He said: “I was having a laugh with Tai. The way wee Tai’s playing now and I do not practise with him. He does it all himself. He puts in his own practice.
“Monday night, he plays in a pub, a tournament. Tuesday, he plays for a pub. Thursday, he plays JDC. Friday, he plays for a pub. And Saturday, Sunday, he plays tournaments and he does it all off his own back.
“We might have an odd game of 121 for about 10 minutes and that’s it, but, I tell you what, if I can keep going to 60, he might be on that stage, I might get a shot at him.
“There is a chance, yeah. If I make 60 and can stand upright, but there is a chance.
“I mean, the way he’s going, I think he’s about 1,600 points clear at the JDC on the things that they do over the eight or 12 weeks. He’s going alright.”
World Darts Championship 2025/26 – all the info
LUK OUT!
