GARY ANDERSON already has his eyes on reclaiming his PDC World Darts crown from Michael van Gerwen in 12 months' time. The only question is whether the Scot has enough Dutch courage to get them surgically enhanced by the time next year's tournament ticks round.

Anderson, whose sight has been deteriorating, reached his third successive final in this competition with the aid of spectacles but today will see him undergo his first consultation as he considers the laser treatment which could get the problem fixed once and for all.

Alas, there was to be no hat-trick of world titles, but considering he has only been wearing glasses for eight weeks, at least this 46-year-old from Musselburgh via Eyemouth, who now resides in Somerset, succeeded in making a spectacle of this showpiece.

As one-sided as the match appears at first glance, Anderson threw a record maximum 71 180s during the tournament, no fewer than 22 of which came in a final of 42 180s - another record. While the match was locked at 2-2 in the early stages, and Anderson staged a brief rally late on, he blamed tiredness for failing to last the phenomenal pace exhibited at the oche by this bullish young Dutchman. This was the World No 1's 26th trophy of a staggering 12 month period. Even more worryingly for the rest of the tour, Van Gerwen said there were still improvements which he could make.

"I keep picking up these wee records, so it isn't too bad for an old boy with glasses nowadays," Anderson told Herald Sport. "But if you get beat, it is because the boy has played better than you, there is no point taking the huff and spitting the dummy out.

"I don't see the point of being upset when you get beaten," he added. "You just sit back and say the boy outplayed me, he was better on the day, then you just wish him all the best. I said to him 'well played this year, you deserve it'. Then I said I am coming to get you next year!

"It is all go. On Thursday I am away to have someone to open my eyes to see if I can brave up enough to get the laser surgery on my eyes done. That would just be the first day of the consultation but I don't know if I am brave enough ... we will see what I say. That is eight weeks that I have been wearing the glasses so at least I have settled in okay with them."

Anderson eventually had to hand his trophy away, but if it had to go to someone thankfully it went to Van Gerwen, rather than the intruder from the rather inebriated Alexandra Palace crowd who boldly strode on stage and lifted the tournament from its on-stage plinth. The miscreant was eventually huckled away, and Anderson briefly benefited from a break in Van Gerwen's flow, but the Scot's resistance was only temporary against an awesome opponent. Aside from the new records he broke this fortnight, further consolation came in the form of the whole-hearted support even from the London crowd.

"It was just a village idiot [who stormed the stage]," said Anderson, a man with form even for upbraiding the Glasgow public for heckling his opponent. "It is so hard for security to keep an eye on everyone. It caught them off guard a little bit but I wouldn't blame security for it.

"The crowds this year have been amazing," he added. "It is the first time in my entire life I have had the entire crowd cheering for me, and that meant a lot. Overall I am very happy with the last couple of weeks. That's three finals in three years, there are not a lot of players who have done that."

This was Van Gerwen's second title, with many thinking he has the potential to surpass even Phil Taylor's record of 16. The only reason Anderson would quibble with that assessment is the fact that so many other young players are emerging.

"I was okay for the first few sets but I just got tired I think," said Anderson. "I got a wee bit of a spur at the end too but it didn't last long. But hats off to Michael. I don't think it would have been right if he had left that tournament not being the winner with the way he has played all season. We tried, we failed, so on to next year.

"The boy [Van Gerwen] is class," he added. "I remember Michael when he was about 14 or 15 and he used to play darts like that. Then he kind of signed up for the PDC and he wasn't really heard of for about three or four years. He was getting beaten early doors. He could prove himself to be better than Taylor, but there are so many darts players coming through now that is going to be harder for him. If he keeps going for ten years winning everything then without a doubt we will be able to say that he is the best player on the planet."

The Dutchman - who ended with an average of 108.6 - was giving serious thought yesterday to building his own darts dynasty. "I think I can get more consistent than this," Van Gerwen told PDC.tv. "Phil Taylor did it for 15 years so why could I not do it for four, five, six, seven, eight, 10 years? I showed everyone this year what I was capable of, and I feel absolutely phenomenal."