Gary Anderson insists his hunger is back after he ended a 19-month victory drought by winning the year’s first Players Championship.

The Flying Scotsman won the World Cup alongside Peter Wright, but enjoyed no individual success in 2019 as he went through absence and rehabilitation after injury problems.

However, Anderson claimed the first PDC ranking title of 2020 with victory in Barnsley.

It was a first PDC ranking title since the 2018 World Matchplay for the two-time World Champion and he said: “It’s been a while since I won something, but I’ve got the hunger back.

“I want to get back to how I was throwing before injury. I don’t mind if I win or lose, but as long as I throw them how I used to then I’ll be alright. I still have work to do, but it’s not a bad start.”

Anderson defeated Canada’s Jeff Smith 8-4 in the Final to complete a sensational day of performance which also saw him defeat big-hitters Gerwyn Price, Rob Cross, Joe Cullen and Adrian Lewis.

The Scot hit four ton-plus averages, including a 107.5 against Christian Bunse in the first round. After a win over Simon Whitlock, a 104 average saw Anderson defeat rival Price for the second time in a week and he followed up with a 106 to clatter Cross and reach the quarter-finals.

Anderson beat Cullen 6-2 and Lewis 7-3 before taking care of Smith in the Final.