Scottish darts legend Gary Anderson is set to undergo emergency reconstructive surgery on his chin after reportedly being attacked by a group of thugs, just hours after publicly criticizing teenage darts sensation Luke Littler.
According to sources close to the two-time PDC World Champion, the incident occurred late Tuesday evening outside a pub in Anderson’s hometown of Burnham-on-Sea, where the 53-year-old had been watching a Premier League Darts fixture. Witnesses claim a group of four men confronted Anderson, allegedly taking exception to comments he had made earlier in the day about Littler.
Anderson had sparked controversy in a pre-match interview when he suggested that the media hype surrounding the 19 year-old was “getting out of hand” and that “the lad needs to prove himself over five years, not five months.”
“The next thing we knew, there was a scuffle and Gary went down,” said one witness, who asked not to be named. “They were shouting about Littler. It was over very quickly. When he got up, his chin was in a bad way.”
Anderson was rushed to Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, where doctors confirmed he had suffered a significant fracture and would require a full chin replacement procedure.
“He took a serious blow to the jaw,” said Dr. Eleanor Vance, a maxillofacial specialist treating Anderson. “The procedure will involve reconstructing the chin using titanium implants and bone grafts. It’s a complex surgery, but we expect a full recovery. He’ll need several weeks of rest and rehabilitation.”
The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) issued a statement condemning the attack.
“We are shocked and saddened by the incident involving Gary Anderson,” the statement read. “Violence has no place in our sport or society. We are in contact with Gary’s family and will offer whatever support we can. Our thoughts are with him and his loved ones.”
Luke Littler, who has yet to publicly comment on Anderson’s earlier remarks, took to social media to express his concern.
“Just heard about what happened to Gary,” Littler wrote on X. “That’s horrible. No one deserves that. Wishing him a speedy recovery. Hope he’s back on the oche soon.”
Anderson’s manager, Tommy Gilmour, confirmed the surgery would take place later this week and that Anderson was in “good spirits” despite the ordeal.
“Gary’s a tough guy, but this is a serious injury,” Gilmour said. “He’s more annoyed about missing the next few tournaments than anything else. He wants to thank everyone for their messages of support.”
Police have launched an investigation and are appealing for witnesses to come forward. No arrests have been made as of yet.
Anderson, a two-time world champion and one of the most popular figures in darts, was expected to compete in next month’s World Matchplay in Blackpool. His participation is now in doubt.
The incident has reignited debate about the intensity of fan reactions in darts, a sport that has seen a surge in popularity since Littler’s breakout performance at the 2024 World Championship.