GARY ANDERSON insists the standard of darts has NOT improved on the big stage.
The world No6 recently reached the semi-final of the World Championship for the EIGHTH time in his illustrious career before falling to young gun Gian van Veen.
Ando, 55, insists modern stars such as Luke Littler and Luke Humphries are no better than his generation, arguing those numbers were being hit long ago.
Anderson reckons the difference now is simply the depth of the field, with far more players capable of regularly hitting ton-plus averages.
He told talkSPORT: “The level has not gone up. It’s the same as what us old lads are still hitting.
“It’s just that there are more of them. Before, you maybe had 20 players who could hit a 100 or 105 average.
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“Now you have 128. So, I would not say they are getting any better than us, or better in terms of averages.
“There are just more players who can hit them.”
Anderson also admitted he now picks and chooses which events he plays due to the demands of life on tour.
He added: “I do. I mean it’s the travelling. It’s great to be these youngsters who go all over the world.
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“I have been all over the world and I have loved it. I have seen countries that I have dreamt about going to.
“But I have done it playing darts. It’s a hectic schedule. It’s really bad especially for the Premier League players.”
Ando returns to action on January 28 as he bids to claim a maiden Winmau World Masters title.