GARY ANDERSON had a terrible 54th birthday as party-pooper Jeffrey de Graaf dramatically ended his dreams of a hat-trick of world titles.
The bunting and birthday cake was canceled as the Flying Scotsman was thumped 3-0 by an unheralded qualifier in his opening game on the Ally Pally stage this year.
It is the first time since December 2009 – his debutant appearance in this competition – that he had gone out in the second round.
It is also the first time he had lost his opening game of the PDC flagship tournament.
The two-time world champion suffered a surprising and humiliating loss – only the third time in 15 years he has not won at least one set at this North London Palace.
At 10-1 to lift a third Sid Waddell Trophy – only Luke Littler and Luke Humphries had shorter odds in the 96-player field – he was tipped by many people to have a good run in the bottom half of the draw.
Some even thought he might give old adversary Michael van Gerwen a fight in the Last 16 but that is not going to happen anymore.
Anderson, the No.14 seed, only hit three out of 20 doubles attempts and looked shellshocked with the result.
The Scotsman, who had admitted pre-game about his creaking body, is one of the most popular players in the sport and received a rapturous reception when he came into the arena.
But Anderson winced as he came off the stage for the TV ad break, having wasted five of his six doubles attempts in the first set.
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De Graaf – who was born in Holland but represents Sweden on the international scene – took out checkouts of 120 and 100 as he bossed the opening proceedings.
Anderson was snatching his darts out of the board in angry fashion in the second set as he fell 2-0 down.
De Graaf produced the biggest shock of the tournament so far and was clinical with his finishing – his winning 76 finish was his ninth out of 12 double attempts.
The world No.81 will take on Filipino Paolo Nebrida in the third round after Christmas and he will fancy his chances of going further.
De Graaf, 34, said: “It’s great. Gary didn’t really show up as he usually does. I am very happy. I got very nervous after the first set.
“I was a bit lucky in the second set when he missed a lot of doubles. That gave me confidence in the third set.
“This has been my best year. I am happy to be here. I will keep on going. My checkouts were the difference.”
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