Gary Anderson emphatically retains European Darts Grand Prix title

Gary Anderson emphatically retained the European Darts Grand Prix title with an 8-0 whitewash of Andrew Gilding in the final in Sindelfingen on Sunday.

Anderson had ended a ten-year wait for a European Tour title in last year’s European Darts Grand Prix, and the two-time World Champion continued his love-affair with the Glaspalast as he became the first player to successfully retain the crown.

The 54-year-old produced a clinical display to clinch the £30,000 top prize, punishing Gilding’s dreadful display of finishing to storm to victory in a one-sided final.

The tone was set as Gilding squandered seven darts at doubles across the opening two legs and Anderson romped clear with the aid of a 141 checkout to lead 4-0.

He then followed up with an 84 checkout on the bull and a brace of 14-darters to seal his third European Tour silverware.

“I’m just glad that I can still come and play darts and compete with these boys,” admitted Anderson.

“I’ve played darts for over 30 years. I’ve played with the likes of Phil Taylor, Eric Bristow, and so many great players over the years.

“These youngsters that are coming through now, the likes of Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, Gian van Veen – darts is in a fantastic place.

“I’m a very proud Scotsman and I get a lot of support in Scotland, but this has outdone them,” admitted the two-time World Champion.

“It’s been absolutely fantastic. It’s been a long time since I’ve had so much support.”

Anderson began his route to glory with an epic last-leg win over Gian van Veen on Saturday, averaging 110 and landing nine 180s to edge out the World Youth Champion.

He began the final day of action by dispatching an out of sorts Rob Cross 6-3 in the Last 16, before coming through a scrappy encounter against Martin Lukeman in another deciding leg.

Anderson recaptured his best form to thrash Dirk van Duijvenbode 7-2 in the semi-finals with a 106.2 average.

Gilding, meanwhile, was denied in his bid to claim a maiden European Tour title, despite producing a series of dominant displays en route to the final.

“I did say earlier I was going to lift the trophy, but Gary obviously had something to prove here today,” said the world number 28.

“In the last couple of European Tour events I went out in the first round, so this is huge for me.”

Following back-to-back deciding-leg wins over Gabriel Clemens and Jonny Clayton, Gilding produced his best-ever big-stage average to defeat Danny Noppert earlier in the day, averaging 110.77 on his way to a 6-3 success.

The former UK Open champion continued his charge with a 6-1 rout of 2017 champion Peter Wright, before closing out a commanding 7-3 win over Luke Woodhouse in the semi-finals.

Woodhouse dumped out Chris Dobey, Ross Smith and Michael Smith to reach his first European Tour semi-final and bolster his hopes of World Matchplay qualification.

Woodhouse was joined in the semis by a resurgent Van Duijvenbode – who followed up his victory over Michael van Gerwen on Satirday by averaging 111 in a 6-2 thumping of German number one Martin Schindler in the Last 16.

The Dutchman then survived four match darts in his quarter-final win over James Wade – who reached the last eight alongside Grand Slam runner-up Lukeman, as well as former World Champions Wright and Smith.

Having survived two match darts from Daniel Klose in Round Two, Smith pulled off an impressive 6-5 win over world number one Luke Humphries in the Last 16, while Lukeman completed a sensational comeback from 5-1 down to stun Raymond van Barneveld.

European Darts Grand Prix 2025 Day Three Results

Sunday May 4

Afternoon Session

Last 16
Martin Lukeman 6-5 Raymond van Barneveld
Gary Anderson 6-3 Rob Cross
James Wade 6-2 Niels Zonneveld
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-2 Martin Schindler
Peter Wright 6-5 Cameron Menzies
Andrew Gilding 6-3 Danny Noppert
Luke Woodhouse 6-3 Ross Smith
Michael Smith 6-5 Luke Humphries

Evening Session

Quarter-Finals
Gary Anderson 6-5 Martin Lukeman
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-5 James Wade
Andrew Gilding 6-1 Peter Wright
Luke Woodhouse 6-5 Michael Smith

Semi-Finals
Gary Anderson 7-2 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Andrew Gilding 7-3 Luke Woodhouse

Final
Gary Anderson 8-0 Andrew Gilding