Gary Anderson Darts – "The Flying Scotsman" Darts & Accessories at Diplomatgames

Gary Anderson is one of the most successful and popular darts players of his generation. The Scot, nicknamed "The Flying Scotsman", was PDC World Champion twice in a row in 2015 and 2016 and has won almost every major title in his career. Anderson is particularly famous for having one of the smoothest and most natural throws in professional darts.

His game often appears astonishingly effortless: pick up three darts, aim, and send them towards the triple 20 in a steady rhythm. When Anderson finds his rhythm, his scoring remains world-class, even in his advanced darting age.

At Diplomatgames, you will find Gary Anderson darts and suitable dart accessories. But what darts does Gary Anderson play, how heavy are his darts, how did he get into darts, and what does The Flying Scotsman do off the oche? Here you can learn more about the career, successes, playing style, equipment, and private life of the Scottish two-time world champion.

Gary Anderson – Profile

Name: Gary Anderson
Nickname: The Flying Scotsman
Birthday: December 22, 1970
Nationality: Scotland
Throwing Hand: Right
Dart Sponsor: Unicorn
Known Dart Weight: 23 grams
PDC World Champion: 2015 and 2016
Premier League: Winner 2011 and 2015
World Matchplay: Winner 2018
UK Open: Winner 2018
Players Championship Finals: Winner 2014
Champions League of Darts: Winner 2018
Former Profession: Manufacturing of fire and fireplace grates
Hobbies/Interests: Fishing, animals, cars, snooker, and boxing

Who is Gary Anderson?

Gary Anderson was born on December 22, 1970, in Scotland and became a professional darts player relatively late.

This is an important difference from many of today's young stars.

Anderson was not a child who trained several hours a day at the dartboard from the age of ten.

According to his own statements, he only started playing darts seriously around the age of 26.

Despite this late start, his exceptional talent quickly became apparent.

Initially, Anderson attracted attention in the BDO and WDF, where he was one of the strongest players in the world.

In 2009, he switched to the PDC.

It wasn't long before The Flying Scotsman finally belonged to the world elite there.

How did Gary Anderson get into darts?

Gary Anderson's entry into darts perfectly matches his personality.

Darts was not a long-term career path for him at first.

He only started playing more seriously as a young adult and discovered his exceptional natural talent in the process.

His father, Gordon, also played an important role in Gary finding his way to the oche. Later, Anderson had to cope with severe personal setbacks: in 2011, his younger brother Stuart died of a heart attack at the age of only 35, and the following year he lost his father.

Anderson continued to play.

And a few years later, the most successful phase of his career began.

Gary Anderson Becomes World Champion in 2015

The big moment came at the PDC World Darts Championship 2015.

Gary Anderson played his way to the final, where he met the most successful darts player of all time:

Phil Taylor.

It developed into a high-class and dramatic World Championship final.

Anderson kept his nerve and won 7:6 in sets.

The Flying Scotsman was PDC World Champion for the first time.

Thus, a player whose enormous talent had been undisputed for years had finally become a champion.

Gary Anderson Defends His World Championship Title

One World Championship title, however, was not enough for Gary Anderson.

At the following PDC World Championship 2016, he achieved something that only a few players manage:

He defended his title.

In the final, Anderson met Adrian Lewis and won 7:5.

Thus, The Flying Scotsman was a two-time PDC World Champion – and that directly in a row.

In 2017, Anderson even reached the World Championship final for the third time in a row. This time he had to admit defeat to Michael van Gerwen.

Thus, Gary Anderson reached an incredible three World Championship finals in a row between 2015 and 2017.

Gary Anderson's Greatest Successes

Gary Anderson has won practically every major PDC title in his career.

His greatest successes include:

• PDC World Champion 2015
• PDC World Champion 2016
• PDC World Championship Finalist 2011
• PDC World Championship Finalist 2017
• Premier League Champion 2011 and 2015
• World Matchplay Champion 2018
• UK Open Champion 2018
• Players Championship Finals Champion 2014
• Champions League of Darts Champion 2018
• numerous other ProTour and TV titles

This makes Anderson one of the most successful players in modern PDC history.

It is particularly impressive that his career spans several generations of darts.

He played against Phil Taylor at his peak, later battled Michael van Gerwen for major titles, and can still show world-class darts even against the much younger generation.

What is Gary Anderson's playing style like?

Gary Anderson possesses one of the most recognizable throwing styles in professional darts.

Many amateur players and even other professionals admire his movement sequence.

The reason is his exceptional naturalness.

Anderson stands relatively relaxed at the oche. His arm moves fluidly, the release appears clean, and the three darts follow in a steady rhythm.

It almost looks like he doesn't have to exert himself at all.

That is precisely the special feature.

At his highest level, Anderson can hit one triple 20 after another without his movement sequence visibly changing.

His game relies heavily on rhythm and feel.

Therefore, Anderson also prefers opponents who have a reasonable pace of play. Very slow matches can influence his natural rhythm more strongly.

Gary Anderson – a natural scoring machine

The Flying Scotsman is particularly known for his enormous scoring.

When Anderson is in form, the Triple 20 is practically his living room.

He doesn't have the aggressive or powerful throw of some other professionals.

The darts seem to fly effortlessly from his hand.

This also makes Anderson interesting for amateur players who want to watch professional throwing techniques.

However, one should not compulsively copy his throw.

Anderson, in particular, is a good example that a natural, repeatable movement sequence can be more important than trying to artificially replicate a supposedly perfect technique.

What darts does Gary Anderson play?

Gary Anderson has been closely associated with Unicorn for many years.

He is particularly known for 23-gram steel darts.

Throughout their collaboration, numerous Gary Anderson signature models have been released, including different Phase generations and special editions. 23-gram versions are among his most famous setups.

A characteristic of many Gary Anderson darts is a comparatively classic, straight barrel shape.

This also makes them interesting for amateur players.

Anderson does not need an extremely complicated barrel geometry.

His setup thus fits quite well with his overall philosophy:

Don't overcomplicate it – just play darts.

What is special about Gary Anderson darts?

Many Gary Anderson Signature Darts have a straight or largely parallel tungsten barrel with ring grip.

This classic concept offers a decisive advantage:

The dart does not necessarily dictate a single grip position to the player.

Depending on the model, front, middle, and rear grippers can get along well with it.

This makes Gary Anderson darts particularly interesting for players who:

• prefer a straight barrel,
• like classic ring grip,
• play around 23 grams,
• do not need extremely pronounced grip recesses,
• or are looking for a versatile professional dart.

Of course, your own grip ultimately determines whether an Anderson dart suits you.

Gary Anderson and Unicorn

Gary Anderson is one of the most famous players associated with Unicorn.

Numerous signature products emerged over their long collaboration.

Especially the various Gary Anderson Phase Darts are well-known among dart players.

Therefore, there isn't just "the one" Gary Anderson dart.

Different generations can vary in terms of grip, coating, barrel dimensions, and balance.

Anyone looking to buy a Gary Anderson dart should therefore always compare the technical data of the specific model.

At Diplomatgames, you will find various Gary Anderson darts from Unicorn, depending on availability.

What was Gary Anderson's previous profession?

Before Gary Anderson could fully make a living from professional darts, he had a rather down-to-earth profession.

And here, one often finds differing or very simplified information online.

Anderson himself explained in an interview that he manufactured grates or grids for fire pits and fireplaces.

Later, darts became his full-time profession.

From making fireplace grates to becoming a two-time world champion at Alexandra Palace – Anderson's career was anything but ordinary.

Gary Anderson private – family and children

Gary Anderson keeps his private life relatively out of the spotlight.

However, it is known how important his family is to him.

In an extensive interview, Anderson spoke about how much the birth of his son Tai changed his life and his attitude towards darts. He also spoke about his two older sons at the time.

Interestingly, Tai seems to have developed a great love for darts himself.

Even as a small child, he spent a lot of time in Gary's practice room. Anderson joked back in 2016 that darts apparently runs in his son's blood.

Meanwhile, it has become more: Tai plays darts himself, and Gary even expressed the wish to remain professionally active long enough to possibly compete against his son on a big stage one day.

Gary Anderson and his animals

Away from the dartboard, a completely different side of the Flying Scotsman emerges.

Anderson is a big animal lover.

In an interview, he spoke about his Bernese Mountain Dogs and even a blue-tongued skink lizard, among other things.

At home, Anderson enjoys spending time with his family and his animals. Instead of constantly being on the go, he enjoys going out with the dogs and then simply watching TV.

This fits his public persona.

Despite his great successes, Anderson rarely seems like someone seeking the life of a sports superstar.

Fishing instead of dartboard

Another great passion of Gary Anderson is fishing.

The Scot spends a lot of time outdoors and also owns or manages fishing waters.

A curious story showed that this hobby can indeed have an impact on his darts career.

While working on trees around his fishing waters, Anderson injured his shoulder with a chainsaw. The injury subsequently affected his throwing arm.

Anderson drew at least one conclusion from this:

Before important tournaments, the chainsaw should rather stay put.

What are Gary Anderson's hobbies?

Besides fishing and animals, Anderson is also interested in other sports.

Already in an earlier interview, he named snooker and boxing as sports he enjoys watching on TV.

Later, he also spoke about his enthusiasm for shows about cars and animals.

This paints a rather fitting picture:

When Gary Anderson isn't on a big PDC stage, you're more likely to find him with family, animals, cars, or by the water than at a glamorous celebrity event.

Why is Gary Anderson called "The Flying Scotsman"?

Gary Anderson's nickname is "The Flying Scotsman".

The name is a reference to the famous British steam locomotive of the same name and, of course, to Anderson's Scottish origin.

Incidentally, Anderson used a different nickname earlier:

"Dreamboy".

"The Flying Scotsman" however, caught on and is now firmly part of his identity.

The name also perfectly matches his game.

When Anderson finds his rhythm, his three darts truly fly towards the Triple 20 at an impressive pace.

Gary Anderson and the modern darts world

Anderson is known for not being enthusiastically supportive of every development in modern darts.

He tends to belong to the old school.

This was evident, for example, in early 2026, when he spoke very clearly about self-proclaimed darts influencers who want to tell other players how to play darts or what expensive equipment they need.

Anderson particularly criticized the idea that beginners have to buy very expensive darts. His core message was much simpler: even with a cheap set, one can learn the sport and play excellently.

This attitude fits remarkably well with his own career.

Gary Anderson was never known for unnecessarily complicating darts.

Talent, feel, rhythm, and many thrown darts were more important to him than constant technical optimization.

Gary Anderson – a Scottish darts legend

Gary Anderson has long since secured his place among the great names in darts history.

Two World Championship titles, two Premier League titles, World Matchplay, UK Open, Players Championship Finals, and Champions League make for an impressive collection of titles.

But titles alone don't explain his popularity.

It's the way Anderson plays darts.

His seemingly effortless throw, enormous scoring, and dry Scottish humor have made The Flying Scotsman a crowd favorite.

Added to this is his down-to-earth nature. Even as a reigning world champion, Anderson essentially explained that he didn't see himself as a superstar. If someone asked him what he did for a living, he simply replied:

He plays darts.

You can't get much more Gary Anderson than that.

Buy Gary Anderson Darts at Diplomatgames

Do you want to try out Gary Anderson's darts yourself or are you looking for a classic Unicorn Signature Dart?

At Diplomatgames, you will find various Gary Anderson darts from Unicorn and suitable dart accessories, depending on availability.

The Flying Scotsman's signature models are particularly interesting for players who prefer classic barrel shapes and clearly defined grip structures.

Anderson himself is particularly associated with 23-gram darts.

However, this does not automatically mean that 23 grams are optimal for you.

When making your selection, pay attention to dart weight, barrel length, diameter, grip, balance, and your personal grip position.

Discover the available Gary Anderson darts at Diplomatgames now and find out which Flying Scotsman setup best suits your throwing style.

FAQ – frequently asked questions about Gary Anderson

What darts does Gary Anderson play?

Gary Anderson plays Unicorn Signature Darts and is particularly known for a 23 gram setup. Over the years, various Gary Anderson Phase and special editions have been released.

How many times has Gary Anderson been World Champion?

Gary Anderson has been a two-time PDC World Champion. He won the World Championship in 2015 against Phil Taylor and defended his title in 2016 against Adrian Lewis.

What is Gary Anderson's throwing style like?

Gary Anderson has a very fluid, natural, and rhythmic throw. His consistent movement and strong scoring on the Triple 20 are particularly characteristic.

When did Gary Anderson start playing darts?

Anderson stated in an interview that he started playing seriously around 26 years old. Thus, his serious darts career began relatively late.

What did Gary Anderson used to do for a living?

Before becoming a full-time darts professional, Anderson stated that he used to manufacture grates or grills for fire pits and fireplaces.

What are Gary Anderson's hobbies?

Anderson is, among other things, a keen angler and animal lover. He is also interested in cars and enjoys watching snooker and boxing.

Where can you buy Gary Anderson Darts?

You can buy Gary Anderson Darts at Diplomatgames. Here you will find Unicorn Gary Anderson Signature Darts and suitable dart accessories, depending on availability.