Grand Slam of Darts: Gary Anderson desperate to win the title for the first time
Gary Anderson is desperate to add the Boylesports Grand Slam of Darts title to his glittering CV before the end of his career.
The 2011 and 2018 runner-up came closer to lifting the prestigious trophy than ever before 12 months ago when he ousted Michael van Gerwen in the semis only for Gerwyn Price to edge him out in 'that' highly controversial final.
It had been a glorious 2018 up until that point having won the World Matchplay to complete a career Triple Crown, which also includes the World Championship and Premier League, while he also triumphed in the televised UK Open and Champions League of Darts for the first time.
In total Anderson claimed eight titles in the calendar year but after his injury-hit run to the World Championship semi-finals was brutally ended by eventual winner Michael van Gerwen, he took time out to recover from treatment on his back and he's never really returned to top form since apart from sporadic patches of promise.
Aside from winning the World Cup with Peter Wright, which earned him his spot at the Grand Slam, the 48-year-old has yet to reach a final in 2019 and despite being fourth favourite to lift the Eric Bristow Trophy this year, it might be more realistic to expect a stronger challenge in 2020.
Nevertheless, Anderson will be going all out to finally get the job done at Wolverhampton's Aldersley Leisure Village a week on Sunday.
He told www.pdc.tv: "I'm desperate to win the Grand Slam before the end of my career. It's my favourite tournament and it's the first one I played in the PDC when I was still with the BDO.
"It's been my favourite since day one and I've been there every single year so I've got to stick at it. I like the fact that you can play your first game, get beat and still qualify; you've got another two games to put it right.
"I'll be giving it a heck of a push to win that either this year or if not then definitely next year."
Anderson was drawn in Group D alongside Darren Webster, William O'Connor and the BDO's Dave Parletti while he could meet PRice in the quarter-finals.
You can click here for the full tournament draw and daily schedule, which will be updated with results throughout the tournament.