Anderson stunned by darts veteran

Published on Thursday 8 January 2009 23:28

FAVOURITE Gary Anderson suffered a stunning 5-3 quarter-final defeat at the hands of ninth seed Tony O'Shea at the BDO World Professional Darts Championships.

O'Shea, a 47-year-old veteran from Greater Manchester, produced a sublime performance to punish top seed Anderson for some slack early play. He led 3-0 as Scot Anderson missed numerous doubles in the first half of the match and though he took the fourth set, O'Shea hit back to go 3-1 up. The Stockport thrower allowed Anderson to take the seventh to go 4-3 but closed out for an outstanding victory.

O'Shea, who reached the semi-finals in 2004, said: "I have been playing a long time and three or four years ago I would have crumbled against Gary, who would have romped away. I knew he was going to come back, he always does.

"But I am now made of much sterner stuff and have done my share of losing. I have served my apprenticeship.

"I'm chuffed with my win. A good win and victory over a legend like Gary, I'm made up."