December 23rd 2024.
On a chilly Sunday evening, Jeffrey de Graaf found himself living the night of his career. The Swedish dart player had his fair share of challenges ahead as he faced off against Gary Anderson, who also happened to be celebrating his birthday. Despite the pressure, de Graaf remained confident and had even given Anderson a gentle warning not to expect any gifts from him during their highly anticipated match at the World Darts Championship in Alexandra Palace.
The 34-year-old de Graaf put on an impressive performance, hitting an incredible 75% of his doubles and taking advantage of Anderson's lackluster performance. It was a sweet victory for the man who had been a fan of Anderson for two decades, ever since the Flying Scotsman was a prominent figure in the BDO circuit. De Graaf couldn't contain his excitement as he said, "It's a dream come true for me. He's been my idol since I was 14 years old. What he's capable of is unbelievable, but he didn't really show up today. I got my chances and I took them immediately. I'm very happy!"
Before the game, de Graaf had made sure to wish Anderson a happy birthday and remind him that he was not in the business of handing out presents at the Ally Pally. "I was aware [of his birthday]. I congratulated him in the practice room," de Graaf shared. "I felt, 'Let's do it in the beginning because I knew it was his birthday.' I also told him, 'Don't expect any presents tonight.' He didn't expect this, of course. I shocked myself as well!"
Anderson, who turned 54 on Sunday, was undoubtedly disappointed with his performance. When asked about their conversation after the game, de Graaf revealed, "He congratulated me, of course, with the win, but there wasn't much talk. Maybe he said some more words, but they got away from me. I was just at that moment celebrating and being happy."
De Graaf's next opponent will be Filipino talent Paolo Nebrida, who caused another upset on Sunday by defeating Ross Smith 3-0. This win came after de Graaf's countryman Sandro Eric Sosing had to withdraw from his first-round match due to illness. This news weighed heavily on de Graaf's mind as he dedicated his win to Sosing and his family. "This means the world to me," he exclaimed. "I feel great. This is for my family, for my fellow countrymen, and Sandro Eric Sosing. Sandro - this is for you!"
Nebrida, who won all three sets in deciding legs, will surely prove to be a challenging opponent for de Graaf. However, the Swedish player remains focused and determined to play his best darts. "It is tough to be here and play on this stage, but this was a big day for me, and I am going to stay focused and play my own darts."
The PDC released a statement regarding Sosing's condition, stating that he had reported numbness and muscle pains before the game and was taken to the hospital for further tests. It was later revealed that he had been diagnosed with GBS Guillain-Barré syndrome and is currently receiving medical care in the hospital. Despite this setback, Sosing remains positive and grateful for the well wishes and kind messages he has received. "Sandro would like to thank everyone who has inquired about his well-being for their well wishes and kind messages."
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