Gary Anderson Calls Out Opponent for 'Cheeky' Backstage Question at World Championship

Gary Anderson was not impressed after first-round opponent Adam Hunt asked a "cheeky" backstage question during their World Darts Championship opener.

The Scot booked his place in the second round of this year's tournament at the Alexandra Palace, although it was hardly a straightforward affair for the two-time world champion.

Anderson had to come back from 2-1 down to secure victory against Hunt, who was clearly in the mood to try and rattle the world number 14.

Speaking in his press conference after Saturday's win, Anderson called out Hunt for what he said away from the cameras, when the pair were backstage.

"At the first break, he popped his head and said, 'When was the last time you played like that?' I went: ‘I play like that all the time, son’. It’s as simple as that," said Anderson.

“I went, cheeky little... We talk about mind games, but when was the last time you played like that? I probably forgot more about darts than what he ever knows."

Anderson continued: “It’s not a thing. I’ve played darts a long time. I still bang in the 110 plus averages. So, yeah, I can still play the game how it should be.”

Asked whether he thought Hunt was playing mind games, the Scot said: “I don’t know, that’s up to you to decide. I know what I think. But I can’t say because I get into trouble every time I say it."

Anderson added: “He’s fighting for his tour card and it’s probably the best he’s played all season.”

The 54-year-old also accused Hunt of "giving it licks" during the game as he analysed the first-round match, which saw Anderson record a respectable average of 95.20.

"I started off great then I don’t know. Up here is a different thing. I missed double ten and all the other doubles," he began.

“First game is always the hardest. I couldn’t get into a rhythm. One minute they are going alright, next minute all over the place. But we’re through. It’s good, gets the heart pumping.

“Risking a heart attack, yeah I love every minute of it! I was mad at myself. The first set, how they’ve been going in Scotland with the exhibitions and the second and third, they were all over the bloody place.

“It started off great in the first set, then I just went absolute to mush. I got back to 2-2 and I started to take my time and actually look what I was throwing at and it kind of worked, so got over the line.”

“Yeah, there were a couple of legs that I threw away. There’s nothing worse than somebody pinching a leg off you and giving it licks and you think, right, okay, that’s not going to go well."

Anderson added: “I dug in, last set, took my time, slowed my pace down a bit and it worked."

"The Flying Scotsman" will take on Connor Scutt or Simon Whitlock in the second round of this year's World Darts Championship.