At Alexandra Palace, reputation buys you noise — not safety. The PDC World Darts Championship has a habit of humbling big names early, and for a stretch on day three it looked like Gary Anderson might be next. From 2–1 down against Adam Hunt, the two-time champion was forced into a familiar Ally Pally test: survive the chaos, ride out a dip in form, and win the legs that actually decide careers.
Anderson did exactly that, battling through a tight 3–2 victory to book his place in round two and remind everyone why he remains one of the most uncomfortable draws in the field. It wasn’t smooth. It wasn’t vintage. But it was the kind of win that still matters most at this venue — the one where nerves can arrive faster than rhythm.
The danger zone: why round one is a trap at Alexandra Palace
The opening match of a World Championship campaign can be brutally deceptive. The format leaves little room to “play your way in,” and lower-ranked opponents arrive with nothing to lose, often producing their best darts of the year under the bright lights. That’s what Anderson ran into: a world number 84 in Hunt who refused to be impressed by history.
Anderson, seeded 14th, edged the first set 3–2, but the match quickly turned into a battle of small margins. He missed opportunities, Hunt punished mistakes, and the tension grew in the way Ally Pally tension always does — louder, tighter, and strangely contagious. When Hunt levelled the match with a confident 72 checkout after Anderson missed double top, the upset narrative started to feel real.
The wobble: 2–1 down and the moment the match changed
Hunt then took the third set as Anderson’s average dropped, and suddenly the favourite was chasing. That’s the part of Ally Pally that can swallow players whole: a short spell of loose finishing or rushed scoring becomes a spiral, and the scoreboard starts to make the arena feel smaller.
But Anderson’s response was the point — not the slump. He raised his level in the fourth set and, crucially, settled the match before it became a pure scrap. In the deciding set he broke early, putting immediate pressure on Hunt’s throw and making the outsider play from behind. At that stage, experience is not a cliché; it’s a weapon. Anderson didn’t need fireworks. He needed control.
“If you think, you lose”: why Anderson’s mindset still travels
After getting over the line, Anderson described the mental tightrope that defines these matches. “If you think, you lose,” he said, explaining how quickly doubt can derail timing and confidence. It’s a line that sounds simple until you watch a first-round match at Alexandra Palace and see how easily a favourite can start “thinking” after one missed double.
This is why Anderson remains dangerous even when he’s not at his fluent best: he knows how to win without perfect darts. Some players rely on rhythm; some rely on scoring; Anderson, at his best, relies on problem-solving. Against Hunt, the problem was not just the opponent’s level — it was the match environment, the pressure of expectation, and the sudden need to manufacture stability.
Why the favourites should still worry
A 3–2 escape doesn’t automatically make a title run, but it does reveal something important: Anderson is still capable of winning tough matches on a “bad day.” Over a long tournament, that quality is gold. It’s also exactly what makes him awkward for top seeds — because the match rarely stays on their terms.
- He’s battle-tested at Ally Pally: Anderson has been here, won here, and understands what the stage does to legs and tempo.
- He can shift gears mid-match: the fourth-set lift and early break in the decider showed he can still find a higher level when required.
- He’s motivated by what comes next: Anderson has spoken about wanting to remain in the mix as the tournament moves towards a bigger stage at the same venue in the future.
In round two, Anderson will play the winner of Connor Scutt vs Simon Whitlock. That’s another test with its own edge — a match where the crowd, the pace, and the moment can all tilt quickly. But if the opener was the hardest hurdle emotionally, Anderson has already cleared the one that ends most campaigns before they begin.
Elsewhere on day three: the other stories you’ll hear at Ally Pally
The afternoon session also delivered a standout debut moment: Welsh amateur David Davies produced a 3–0 win over Mario Vandenbogaerde to set up a dream second-round tie with defending champion Luke Littler. Andrew Gilding progressed with a 3–1 win over Cam Crabtree, while Luke Woodhouse recovered from a slow start to beat Boris Krcmar 3–1.
For Anderson, though, the headline is simple: he’s still standing — and at Alexandra Palace, that is often the first real sign of danger.
Sources: Coverage of Anderson vs Hunt and Saturday’s results via BBC Sport (Darts) and tournament information via the PDC.
