Gary Anderson Dominates World Matchplay Darts with Dominant Victory Over Ryan Joyce

Gary Anderson produced an exceptional performance at the World Matchplay in Blackpool, dispatching Ryan Joyce 10-2 to advance to the second round. The Scottish former champion, seeded 12th, averaged 109.96 and won the final five legs without Joyce finding an answer. Anderson now faces fifth-seeded Jonny Clayton in the next stage after Clayton defeated Damon Heta 10-7.

A Clinical Display at Winter Gardens

Anderson's performance against Joyce showcased the form that saw him claim the World Matchplay title in 2018. The Scottish player delivered spectacular checkout finishes of 144 and 141, with his treble and double accuracy proving decisive throughout the encounter. Joyce, an English competitor, had no response as Anderson controlled the match from start to finish.

Speaking after his victory, Anderson reflected on the nature of his display. "The trebles were going in, the doubles were going in, the checkouts were going in — when it happens like that you can't do anything wrong," he explained. "Ryan's just come up against it. You get those days when you can throw with your eyes shut and hit everything, and that was one of those days." The former world champion's consistency across all departments of the game left Joyce unable to mount a meaningful challenge.

Road to the Last-16

Anderson's path forward includes a second-round matchup against Jonny Clayton, who described the Scottish player as his "hero" following his own 10-7 victory. Clayton demonstrated his own quality with a superb 144 checkout finish in that encounter. The last-16 clash between Anderson and Clayton represents one of several notable second-round matchups emerging from the opening round.

Elsewhere in the tournament, three-time World Matchplay champion Michael van Gerwen advanced by defeating Andrew Gilding 10-6. Dutch fifth-seeded Gian van Veen progressed 10-6 against Krzysztof Ratajski, while sixth-seed James Wade secured a 10-7 victory over Jermaine Wattimena. The early rounds have established a competitive field featuring multiple Dutch representatives and several seeded players among the advancing competitors.