Gary Anderson is hoping a relaxing build-up to the PDC World Darts Championship will help him reel in the sport's biggest trophy for a third time.
The Flying Scotsman is bidding to become just the second player behind the legendary Phil Taylor to capture more than two world titles following his back-to-back successes in 2015 and 2016 but a certain Michael van Gerwen also has the same ambition.
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Anderson can already look back on a superb 2018 which saw him win four televised titles including the UK Open, World Matchplay (where he also hit a nine-darter along the way) and Champions League of Darts crowns all for the first time in his career.
🙌🎯 Gary Anderson's nine-darter at the #WorldMatchplay!!!pic.twitter.com/R4GQhzHfuA
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) July 26, 2018
However, after two heated and controversial defeats to Daryl Gurney and Gerwyn Price ended his hopes of picking up his maiden World Grand Prix and Grand Slam of Darts titles respectively prior to a defeat to MVG at the recent Players Championship Finals, Anderson is keen for some rest.
😡🏆 Boos ring out as Gerwyn Price becomes Grand Slam of Darts champion!
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) November 18, 2018
Have you ever seen anything like it!pic.twitter.com/6HdPgpIldV
The 47-year-old, who will face Paul Nicholson or Kevin Burness in his opening match at Alexandra Palace, told www.pdc.tv: "Away from the darts I love my fishing, it relaxes me and puts me in a good frame of mind.
"I'm going to enjoy the time off between now and the worlds, spending time with my wife and kids and also getting a bit of fishing in!
"I still enjoy playing darts but being away all the time takes a lot out of me and I always look forward to being at home, any opportunity I get I'm out fishing.
"I've not done too bad so far this year so what I'm doing seems to be working for me."
Anderson last tasted success on the Alexandra Palace Stage at the 2016 event, which also saw him land a nine-dart finish, before losing out to Michael van Gerwen in the 2017 final.
NINE-DARTER! Gary Anderson hits the perfect leg in his 6-0 whitewash of Jelle Klaasen in the Semi-Finals. That atmosphere! 💯💯🎯🎯 pic.twitter.com/UthaPWKhZW
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 12, 2016
The Scot suffered a quarter-final exit to Phil Taylor in the last ever meeting between the pair at last year's tournament, but is feeling confident of reaching a fourth world final in five years.
"It's going okay so far this year, the big one is coming up now and I'm really looking forward to it," Anderson added.
"It would be an amazing feeling to win a third world title, I wasn't happy with how it turned out last year but now I've got the chance to put that right.
"For me it's just about turning up and playing my own game, which if I do then I know there's a good chance I could win it.
"I say 'could' rather than 'will' because there's so many good players nowadays, whoever lifts the title this year it will be well deserved.
"Every player will tell you the first game is the worst part of the tournament but once you get through that it's a relief and you can relax your way into it."
