FOR AULD TIMES' SAKE

Braveheart Anderson ready to turn back time at the Palace

- MIKE WALTERS

GARY ANDERSON has won more matches at Alexandra Palace than anyone bar Michael van Gerwen - and although he's "creaking and cracking" I he's not finished yet.

The Flying Scotsman was the last man to defend the PDC World Championship title, in 2016, and celebrates his 54th birthday today by starting his 16th campaign here against Jeffrey de Graaf.

Anderson is fired-up to strike a blow for the old guard in the knowledge that all-time great Phil Taylor was 52 when he won the last of his 16 world titles.

And he means business.

Luke Littler had to pull out all the stops to pip Anderson in their epic Grand Slam of Darts semi-final last month, and the two-time world champion is third favourite with the bookies, behind Littler and defending champ Luke Humphries, to claim a third title.