Darts classic: Will Anderson send MvG home?
The duel between the old masters is about to begin! Just a few years ago, the duel between MvG and the Flying Scotsman would have been the big show for dart throwers, before the name “Luke” made a name for itself at the top of the world rankings in two ways, alongside up-and-coming stars such as Gian van Veen and Josh Rock.
There is no doubt that both professionals are in excellent form heading into the highlight of the season: Michael van Gerwen has performed confidently despite the distractions caused by his ex-wife Daphne, while Gary has already survived overtime after Christmas and recently scored double over 100 points on average.
Accordingly, the bookmakers’ odds are very close in almost every discipline ahead of the direct duel between Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson. Whether it’s the odds on victory, the highest checkout or the most 180s – almost everywhere, it seems to be a case of the infamous coin flip. The fact that the Green Machine continues to talk big is almost a side note. Gary is the cooler of the two off stage, but he definitely needs to be considered when looking for the best MvG vs. Anderson tip.
Fans at Ally Pally were denied maximum excitement during the Scot’s most recent appearance when Gary missed the double 12 for nine. Bet365 is paying out double-digit odds (@ 13.00) for a perfect leg in the clash of the titans. A big fish is more than twice as likely (@ 6.00).
A whitewash would be surprising, which is why the van Gerwen vs. Anderson prediction of over 5.5 sets is no surprise. The odds on an average of over 97.5 points for each player offer equally realistic chances of a decent return. Gary Anderson was recently double over 100 points, while MvG only failed to beat the line in a somewhat bumpy opening game. The fast pace of both professionals makes a high-class match likely.
Although Gary Anderson entered the tournament as only number 14 in the world rankings, he outperformed MvG in terms of both annual average and checkout rate. However, the Big Fish is still missing in 2025. But these statistics are not really significant, as the Dutchman has saved his best form for the highlight of the tournament year.
Michael van Gerwen – Gary Anderson Head-to-head comparison / H2H statistics
The most recent head-to-head comparison was just over a month ago. At the Grand Slam, Mighty Mike triumphed 5-2 in the short distance of only “Best of 9 Legs.” Even then, MvG impressed with over 108 points per shot and almost half as many 180s as legs played.
In 2024, however, both H2H went to the flying Scot, who is in the autumn of his career. However, it is doubtful whether the name “Anderson” will really disappear from the stage anytime soon. In two respects, this is down to his son Tai, who is very skilled with the darts, while his father Gary is motivated to stay on stage until he has shown his son how it’s done with his precise throws.
Michael van Gerwen – Gary Anderson Tip
Everything is set for a hot darts battle: Gary Anderson was the last player to defend the World Championship title in 2016, thereby unwittingly providing motivation and drive for Luke “The Nuke” Littler. With more final defeats than World Championship titles to his name so far, MvG needs to prove that he still deserves to be at the top against the likes of Luke Littler. On a good day, Michael van Gerwen vs. Gary Anderson is likely to be a match that will leave fans speechless.
MvG has a slight advantage according to the odds. Unlike his rival, he has not yet gone through any crunch time. Will his arm remain relaxed when things get tight against Gary?
What’s really interesting between MvG and Anderson are the average odds from the bookmaker Bet365, which we tested, offered at 97.5. Both pros should cover those if they maintain their form from recent matches.
