Gary Anderson thrashes Ryan Joyce at World Matchplay 2026
Gary Anderson produced a near-flawless World Matchplay display in Blackpool, thrashing Ryan Joyce 10-2 with a 109.96 average and spectacular 144 and 141 finishes to reach the last 16. The 55-year-old 2018 champion and 12th seed will next face Jonny Clayton, silencing form critics with a vintage Winter Gardens masterclass.
Key Takeaways
- Gary Anderson beat Ryan Joyce 10-2 to reach the World Matchplay last 16 in Blackpool.
- He averaged 109.96, landed 144 and 141 checkouts, and won the final five legs.
- At 55, Anderson told pundits to "sleep on it" after questions over limited 2026 game time.
- He next faces fifth seed Jonny Clayton, who defeated Damon Heta 10-7.
How did Gary Anderson beat Ryan Joyce?
Scotland's Anderson, the 2018 World Matchplay winner, delivered what the BBC called a near-flawless showing at the Winter Gardens. Joyce had little answer as Anderson piled on the pressure and closed with five straight legs.
"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," Anderson said. He added that some days you can "throw with your eyes shut and hit everything," and this was one of them.
According to BBC Sport, the 12th seed's 109.96 average and high finishes underlined a vintage night on the Blackpool stage.
Why does Gary Anderson's form matter at 55?
Anderson arrived with question marks after playing only about 50 matches this season and failing to win a ProTour title. Oche180 reported it as his best-ever Winter Gardens display on his 18th Matchplay appearance — a striking mark of sporting longevity.
That resilience is why the result resonates beyond the oche, including for readers following longevity and biohacking stories about elite performers who keep competing deep into middle age.
Speaking to talkSPORT after the win, Anderson told critics the pundits know next to nothing and to "sleep on it." He is chasing a ninth major crown and his first since 2018, with £225,000 on offer for the Phil Taylor trophy winner.
Still, he played down the cash and silverware. "It's not about money. I just like playing darts," he said, adding he cannot work out whether his head or his body is telling him to keep going.
Who does Gary Anderson face next at the World Matchplay?
Anderson's last-16 opponent is Welsh fifth seed Jonny Clayton. Clayton reached the second round by beating Australia's Damon Heta 10-7, sealing the win with a superb 144 finish.
Clayton described Anderson as his "hero" ahead of the clash — a reminder of the Scot's standing even as a new generation rises. Elsewhere on day one, Michael van Gerwen, Gian van Veen, James Wade and others also advanced, but Anderson's 10-2 demolition was the standout statement.
For now, the Flying Scotsman has answered the form debate the loudest way possible: by turning back the clock when it mattered in Blackpool.