Gary Anderson fires back at Adam Hunt’s mind games “Okay, nah, it’s not going to go well”

Former two-time world champion Gary Anderson was left visibly frustrated after a tense first-round encounter at the World Darts Championship, accusing his opponent of engaging in unnecessary “mind games” on the Ally Pally stage. The Flying Scotsman was pushed all the way in his opening contest, eventually edging past Adam Hunt in a deciding set to secure a narrow 3–2 victory and book his place in the next round.

The match itself was far from straightforward for Anderson, who found himself under pressure early on as Hunt played with confidence and enthusiasm on the sport’s biggest stage. Several legs slipped away from the Scot, forcing him into a fifth and deciding set and raising the prospect of a major upset. However, drawing on his vast experience, Anderson managed to steady himself at the crucial moment, slow the tempo of the game, and wrest back control when it mattered most.

While the quality of darts was a key talking point, it was clear at the conclusion of the match that there was an underlying edge between the two players. That tension quickly became apparent during Anderson’s post-match interview, where he addressed what he felt were over-the-top celebrations and comments from his opponent throughout the contest.

When asked whether Hunt’s enthusiastic reactions on stage had fired him up, Anderson did not hold back. “Yeah, I mean it was a couple of legs that I threw away,” he explained. “There’s nothing worse than somebody pinching a leg off you and giving it licks, and you think, hmm right, okay, nah, it’s not going to go well. But no, like I say, I dug in. The last set I took my time, slowed my pace down a bit, and it worked.”

Gary Anderson fires back at Adam Hunt’s mind games

The Scot’s irritation appeared to stem not only from the celebrations but also from a comment made by Hunt during one of the breaks in play. When questioned about his opponent raising his game for the occasion, Anderson revealed an exchange that clearly stuck in his mind.

“At the first break, he popped his head in and went, ‘When was the last time you played like that?’” Anderson recalled. “I play like that all the time, son, it’s as simple as that. I went, cheeky little… You know, talk about mind games. When was the last time you played like that? I probably forgot more about darts than he ever knows. I’ve played darts a long time. I still bang in the 110 averages, so yeah, I’ll play the game how it should be.”

Given Anderson’s decorated career, including two world titles and years competing at the very top of the sport, the remark clearly struck a nerve. When pushed on whether he felt the comment was a deliberate attempt to unsettle him, the Scot remained guarded, hinting at his true feelings without spelling them out.

“I don’t know, that’s up to you to decide,” he said. “I know what I think, but I can’t say because I get in trouble every time I say it.”

Later in the interview, Anderson summed up his philosophy on the game and what he expects from opponents on stage. “I just want to play darts,” he added. “It’s not rocket science. You throw your darts and then get out the boy’s way and let him throw. That’s it. It’s the easiest game in the world to play, end of.”

Despite the controversy, Anderson will ultimately be relieved to have survived a potentially dangerous opening match. With the pressure of the first round behind him, the focus now turns to whether the veteran can channel that edge into a deep run at Ally Pally once again.