GARY ANDERSON has revealed the World Championship heartbreak which has inspired his return to winning ways ahead of the start of the Betway Premier League Darts.
The Scot ended two years without a ranking win when he picked up victory in the German Darts Championship on Sunday, edging past Justin Pipe 6-5 in the final.
Anderson, the 2011 Premier League Darts champion who had been a fixture inside the world's top four at the time, has slipped out of the world's top 16 during the past year.
And although he had shown signs of a return to form towards the end of 2012, reaching the quarter-finals of the World Grand Prix and Players Championship Finals, the 43-year-old was left to rue an agonising defeat at the World Championship.
Anderson led Michael van Gerwen 3-1 in sets during their third round clash at Alexandra Palace, but saw the Dutchman hit back to win 4-3 as the Scot was punished for failing to finish off the match.
After revealing that the defeat has haunted him throughout January, Anderson is now hoping to continue his bright start to the year - which began with his weekend victory in Germany - when he kicks off the Betway Premier League Darts season against Raymond van Barneveld in Liverpool.
"Ever since I lost to Michael I've been on the practice board because I don't ever want to throw a game away like that again to anyone," said Anderson.
"The darts have been going really well in practice and I've put a lot of time in, and that's paying off for me now.
"The way I played in my first game in Germany against Glenn Spearing, averaging 108, was how I've been playing in practice and I want to take that into the Premier League now.
"I've dropped out of the top 16 and I want to get back in there and keep climing back into the top eight again, but I'm also really determined to have a good Premier League season.
"I'm really looking forward to the year and winning in Germany's a great start for me."
Tickets for Thursday's opening Betway Premier League Darts league night at the Echo Arena in Liverpool are still available by calling 0844 8000 400 or online via www.echoarena.com.