Gary Anderson Eliminated from World Darts Championship

On his 54th birthday, two-time champion Gary Anderson suffered a shocking exit from the PDC World Championship, losing 3-0 to Jeffrey de Graaf. Anderson, who came into the tournament with the highest three-dart average of the year, struggled significantly, hitting only three of his 20 checkout attempts. De Graaf, ranked 81st in the world, capitalized on Anderson's poor performance and expressed his surprise at the outcome, admitting he was nervous but relieved to secure the win. This loss marks Anderson's first opening match defeat at a World Championship in 15 years, adding to a troubling trend for seeded players, with 11 of the 23 seeds eliminated so far. De Graaf will advance to face Filipino qualifier Paolo Nebrida in the next round. Anderson's defeat highlights the unpredictable nature of the championship and sets the stage for further upsets.