World Champion Raymond van Barneveld fired out an ominous warning on day two of the Las Vegas Desert Classic.
Unicorn’s Kevin Painter didn’t do a lot wrong but he was swept aside by a brilliant Barney, who is aiming for his third TV ‘Major’ of the year, having already won the World Championship and UK Open.
Painter could only stand and watch, as Barneveld pulverised the treble 20 bed. He averaged over 103 and won the match with a classy 116 check-out. The Dutch ace was 5-0 up in the blink of an eye and missed three darts for a whitewash, which gave Painter his chance to win his only leg.
Barneveld was runner-up in Vegas 12 months ago – losing that final to John Part – but with Vegas still coming to terms with Phil Taylor’s shock defeat – he is now odds-on at the bookies to win the Desert Classic in 2007.
Adrian Lewis looked in good nick in his victory over Steve Smith. The new Unicorn ‘Maestro’ hit six 180s in a dominant darting display.
After taking the opening two legs, Smith hit back to level the match but he couldn’t handle Lewis’ heavy scoring. The Stoke youngster won three consecutive legs to take control and his 6th maximum set up a comfortable 6-3 win.
And the ‘open’ draw for the 2nd Round has thrown Lewis a blockbuster clash against Mervyn King, while Peter Manley will face a terrific all-Unicorn clash against Colin Osborne and Wes Newton will take on Terry Jenkins.
Defending Vegas Champion John Part will face the man who beat Phil Taylor….Mark Dudbridge, while Barney will play Wayne Mardle in another mouth-watering tie.
Manley kept his cool to withstand a Vincent van der Voort fightback. The Unicorn star raced into a 5-1 lead, after losing the first leg. Along the way, Manley just missed double top for a 160 check-out but his finishing was a class above.
Van der Voort found his form too little too late, reeling off three straight legs but ‘One Dart’ produced some terrific darts in the 10th leg to seal victory and he won it in style with a 112 finish.
So, the former Desert Classic Champion is on his way and if he maintains that high standard on the doubles, he will be a real threat.
Elsewhere on Thursday night, Mervyn King was a convincing winner against Canadian Gerry Convery, Dennis Smith came from 0-4 down to beat Dennis Priestley, Alan Tabern won a last leg decider against American No.1 John Kuczynski but US star Darin Young accounted for PDC new boy Tony Eccles and Roland Scholten clinched victory over Andy Smith with a 144 finish.
Thursday 1st Round results:
Gerry Convery 1-6 Mervyn King
Dennis Priestley 5-6 Dennis Smith
Darin Young 6-3 Tony Eccles
Peter Manley 6-4 Vincent van der Voort
Raymond Van Barneveld 6-1 Kevin Painter
John Kuczynski 5-6 Alan Tabern
Adrian Lewis 6-3 Steve Smith
Roland Scholten 6-4 Andy Smith
Losers - £2,000
2nd Round draw:
Wes Newton v Terry Jenkins
Peter Manley v Colin Osborne
Mark Dudbridge v John Part
Adrian Lewis v Mervyn King
Darin Young v Dennis Smith
Gary Mawson v Alan Tabern
Raymond Van Barneveld v Wayne Mardle
Roland Scholten v Steve Beaton
BY STUART PYKE