Gary Anderson was in ruthless form at the World Matchplay in Blackpool, storming past Ryan Joyce 10-2 to book his place in the last-16. The 12th seed and 2018 champion averaged 109.96 in a performance that looked close to untouchable.
Anderson did not just win, he controlled the match from the start and rarely gave Joyce a chance to settle. It was the kind of display that reminds the rest of the field why the former world champion remains a major threat at the Winter Gardens.
Anderson's scoring and finishing were both in sync
The key to the result was that Anderson had everything working at once. He said the trebles were going in, the doubles were going in and the checkouts were going in, and that combination made it almost impossible for Joyce to get back into the contest.
When a player is flowing like that, there is very little an opponent can do. Anderson's own assessment was simple: it was one of those days when he could throw with his eyes shut and hit everything. That is the sort of level that can change the feel of a tournament.
Jonny Clayton awaits in the second round
The reward for Anderson is a second-round meeting with Jonny Clayton, who beat Damon Heta 10-7 to reach the next stage. Clayton will arrive with confidence after that result, but Anderson's performance will also send a clear message to the draw.
For Anderson, this was more than just progression. It was a statement win from a player who already knows how to lift the title in Blackpool, and a sign that he is once again timing his form well at the right stage of the World Matchplay.
The next test should be a sharper one, but Anderson has already shown that when the scoring is this strong and the finishing this clean, he can turn a first-round match into a warning shot for everyone else.
