Darts legend Gary Anderson has stormed into the semi-finals of the PDC World Darts Championship for the first time in four years, ending the fairytale run of debutant Justin Hood at Alexandra Palace.
Anderson's quest for a historic third crown
The 55-year-old Scot, a two-time former champion, displayed champion form to secure a 5-2 victory over Hood. This win puts him just two matches away from securing an incredible third world title, a full decade after his last triumph in 2016. Should he lift the Sid Waddell Trophy again, he would become the oldest player ever to win the PDC world title and join Michael van Gerwen in joint second place on the all-time winners' list.
Anderson, who defeated Van Gerwen in a previous round, now awaits the winner of the match between Luke Humphries and Gian van Veen in Friday's semi-final. This will be his eighth appearance in the last four at the iconic Ally Pally venue.
For Justin Hood, the journey ends at the quarter-finals, but his debut championship has been nothing short of remarkable. The 32-year-old, who had never played at the tournament before, leaves with £100,000 in prize money, which he plans to use to fulfil his dream of opening a Chinese restaurant.
Searle's inspirational run despite vision impairment
Joining Anderson in the semi-finals is Ryan Searle, who produced a masterclass to defeat the number five seed, Jonny Clayton, also by a 5-2 scoreline. The 38-year-old's achievement is made all the more extraordinary by the fact he competes with a significant visual impairment.
Searle has been diagnosed with Kjer's optic neuropathy, a hereditary eye condition that often prevents him from seeing where his darts land. He revealed that his daughter is registered as visually impaired due to the same condition.
"It's only in the last 18 months that I realised what the diagnosis was for my vision," Searle said. "There's no cure for what I've got. I'm stuck with it... Sometimes on stage, I'm asking the caller what I've scored, and it puts me in a bit of a difficult position."
He hopes his performance can raise awareness and inspire others. "If I can inspire people who maybe can't see as well as others to pick up the game and give it a go, then that means a lot to me," he added.
What happens next at Ally Pally?
Searle is likely to face the teenage sensation Luke Littler in his semi-final, setting up a potentially epic clash. The tournament continues to deliver high drama and inspiring stories, from Anderson's veteran resurgence to Searle's determined triumph over adversity. All eyes now turn to the semi-finals as the battle for the 2024 PDC World Darts Championship reaches its thrilling climax.
