Gary Anderson and Justin Hood Lead Charge into World Darts Championship Quarter-Finals
Gary Anderson defeated Michael van Gerwen 4-1 to reach the World Championship quarter-finals for the first time since 2022 at Alexandra Palace. Anderson's strong performance signals a resurgence in form, demonstrating he remains a formidable contender despite advancing age. Meanwhile, Van Gerwen, averaging 99.8, struggled with finishing, missing nearly a quarter of visits without hitting a treble and converting only 2 of 19 doubles, reflecting a difficult year and a lack of killer instinct.
First-year PDC player Justin Hood, ranked world No 86, achieved a stunning 4-0 victory over Josh Rock. Hood's match included 11 consecutive doubles and a 119 finish, securing him at least £100,000 and fueling his dream of opening a Chinese restaurant.
Luke Humphries reached the quarter-finals with a 4-1 win over Kevin Doets and will face Gian van Veen, who also advanced after beating Charlie Manby 4-1. Humphries emphasized that another level of performance is needed to win the tournament.
Jonny Clayton overcame a set deficit to beat Andreas Harrysson, rising to fourth in the world rankings. Krzysztof Ratajski defeated Luke Woodhouse 4-2 and will meet Luke Littler, who progressed from the opposite side of the draw.
The quarter-final lineup features Humphries versus Van Veen, Littler versus Ratajski, Searle versus Clayton, and Anderson versus Hood.
