Gary Anderson Labels Young Darts Players BORING and Pleads for Adrian Lewis Return

Gary Anderson is through to the second round of the 2025 World Matchplay, after a convincing 10-5 win over Luke Woodhouse yesterday evening. 

Anderson is a former winner at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, having collected his first and only Matchplay title in 2018. 

He also made it to the final in 2020, losing to Dimitri Van den Bergh but has since had early round exits in the last four years. 

In his 17th consecutive year in the tournament, Anderson put in a solid performance against Luke Woodhouse.

He registered a 98 average, 66.67% checkout rate, and five consecutive leg wins as he looks to make a deep tournament run. 

ANDERSON CRUISES PAST WOODHOUSE!

Gary Anderson wins only his second game at the World Matchplay in four years, as he wins five straight legs to beat Luke Woodhouse 10-5!

📺 https://t.co/ZboV9dF4Ji #MatchplayDarts | R1 pic.twitter.com/7YNsHzJL8x

— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 20, 2025

Instead of being happy with his performance though, Anderson admits he misses the ‘good old days’ of darts and says the young players coming through are boring to play against…

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Gary Anderson Says Young Darts Players are ‘Boring’

In his post match press conference, Anderson was in good spirits joking with the media during his interview. 

When asked about the number of new faces in these tournaments though, he took the opportunity to talk about the ‘flaws’ he sees in the modern game as a professional. 

He said: 

“I was having a talk with Whitey [Ian White], Aidy Lewis, Taylor, Painter, we used to sit and have a cracking laugh.

“Nowadays, nobody talks to anybody. You don’t have a good laugh, you don’t have a bit of banter…

“You need to have a laugh, it doesn’t matter what you do in life whether you’re on a building site or in an office you’ve always got to have a laugh.

“Youngsters are boring, absolutely boring. You talk to them and they’re too busy looking at their phone.”

It’s a subject that Anderson obviously feels strongly about as he spoke with quite a serious tone but as someone who’s been doing it at an elite level for a few decades, it’s probably advice that the younger generation should at least take notes on. 

Gary Anderson Labels Darts' Youngsters 'BORING' And Urges Them To Enjoy Themselves

"We used to have a cracking laugh, nowadays nobody talks to anybody.

"You don't have a good laugh, you don't have a bit of banter.

"The youngsters are boring, absolutely boring." pic.twitter.com/Rbtk5xtI2C

— Darts Now (@DartsNow_) July 20, 2025

Following on from this, Anderson would then make a surprise plea for a darts legend to return to the game!

Gary Anderson Wants Adrian Lewis to Return to Darts

After giving his view on the younger generation in darts and atmosphere backstage, Anderson made a short plea for one of darts great players to make a return. 

“The old boys, Aidy Lewis and all them… Like I say, Aidy was brilliant and I wish he comes back, I do miss him.” 

Adrian Lewis lost his Tour Card last year after failing to attend tournaments and as a result, losing the ranking points needed to retain his professional status. 

Issues in his personal life around family health were the main reason for Lewis gradually stepping away from the game but Anderson is not the only one who wants Lewis to return. 

Any media appearance he is asked about the possibility and fans are always calling for it but he said he’d only return if his mind was right. 

Aged 40, it’s hard to say he couldn’t still compete at the highest level if he were to make a return. Gerwyn Price and Stephen Bunting are the same age, thriving, and arguably don’t have the talent that Lewis possesses… 

Whether or not he’ll return to the oche though is something he himself isn’t sure of.

You can see Anderson’s full interview below provided by Darts Now: 

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