Michael van Gerwen says there is “room for fireworks” when he faces Gary Anderson in the most exciting match of the World Darts Championship yet in the fourth round on Tuesday night.

Michael van Gerwen believes there is potential for a spectacular showdown when he faces Gary Anderson in the fourth round of the World Darts Championship, marking their first meeting at the tournament in seven years. Both players say they are eagerly anticipating the clash at Alexandra Palace.

Van Gerwen and Anderson are the most successful players since the World Championship moved to Ally Pally in 2008, sharing five world titles between them, three for the Dutchman and two for the Scot. Despite their long rivalry, they have not met on this stage since 2018.

On current form, the contest promises to be tight. Anderson has impressed in recent wins over Connor Scutt and Jermaine Wattimena, while Van Gerwen has shown flashes of his old dominance. Van Gerwen acknowledged Anderson’s strong scoring, noting that the former champion has been averaging over 100, while he himself has been hovering just below that mark.

Van Gerwen said matches against Anderson often bring out the best in both of them, adding that their encounters usually produce high-quality darts. Although he leads their head-to-head record 50–22, he admitted he will need to raise his level to overcome what he called a “phenomenal player.”

Reflecting on their long history, Van Gerwen said they have been competing against each other for more than two decades and know exactly how to challenge one another. He added that matches like this are the reason he still loves the game.

Anderson, meanwhile, said Van Gerwen knows exactly what to expect from him though which version turns up remains the question. Despite inconsistent TV results in recent years, Anderson remains confident he can still compete with the elite, pointing out that Van Gerwen reached last year’s world final.

The two-time world champion played down talk of chasing a third title, saying he is simply enjoying the competition and causing problems for younger players. He added that, at this stage of his career, every outcome feels like a bonus.

Sky Sports pundit Wayne Mardle said the match is difficult to predict, praising Anderson’s resilience in his previous round and suggesting the result could go either way. While both players are no longer at their peak title-winning years, Mardle believes the encounter could still be one of the highlights of the tournament.