‘Better off watching Coronation Street’ - Gary Anderson threatens to quit darts

Gary Anderson, right, was unimpressed with opponent Mensur Suljović's pace of play. Picture: Luke Walker/Getty Images

Two-time PDC world champion Gary Anderson suggested darts fans would have been better off watching Coronation Street than his controversial 4-3 victory over Mensur Suljovic.

Anderson, world champion in 2015 and 2016, missed an astonishing 33 shots at doubles and admitted to being frustrated by Suljovic’s inconsistent pace of play at Alexandra Palace.

The Musselburgh man, who hit four ton-plus checkouts in up-and-down third-round World Championship display, told Sky Sports: “It was dire, an absolute joke of a game. I’ve always played darts, but if that’s darts I’m offski.

“Simple as that. If that’s how darts is going to be played I’m away for a game of golf. I’m not going through that again.

World champion Peter Wright, left, suffered a shock third-round defeat at the hands of Gabriel Clemens of Germany. Picture: Luke Walker/Getty Images

“I’m sure there are 90 per cent of folk watching at home, they probably turned over and watched Corrie or something – I would have done.”

Questioning Suljovic’s variable pace of play, Anderson added: “Was he slow in the last set or the third set? No, he wasn’t slow then.

“I just want to throw darts and if you get spanked, the boy’s been better than you. You shake his hand and then you go.

“But I didn’t enjoy that and I’m just sorry for the folk who watched it.”

Anderson – who saw Suljovic miss four darts to close out both the first and third sets before losing them – trailed 3-2 after losing six successive legs.

But the number 13 seed rattled off six legs of his own to finally overcome the Austrian and reach the last 16.

Defending champion Peter Wright crashed out in a shock 4-3 third-round defeat to Germany’s Gabriel Clemens.