Raymond van Barneveld is OUT of the Ladbrokes World Championship.
In one of the biggest upsets in the history of the World Championship, the Unicorn man was beaten by James Richardson – a 38-year-old bricklayer from Northamptonshire.
It must go down as the worst night of Barney’s career, as he tumbled out of the World’s after a result which has shaken the sporting world to the core.
Barney was humbled 3-0 and will now go home to Holland with a lot to think about after this shattering blow for the five times World Champion.
The darts world just couldn’t believe it, the crowd at the Alexandra Palace couldn’t believe it and Barney could not believe it.
The Dutchman was obviously shattered by the result.
Nobody can quite believe what happened on Sunday night at the Ally Pally, but that is what sport is all about…..the massive underdog always has a chance and Richardson made history with his performance.
There was no hint of what was to come when Barneveld came out and won the opening leg with a brilliant 12 darter, including a 180 and a 130 check-out…..he then went 2-0 up and looked to be coasting.
But it all started to go horribly wrong for Barney.
Richardson got on the board and then with Barneveld sat on 82 to win the set, the ‘brickie’ nailed an astonishing 145 finish and won a third consecutive leg to take the set.
The Dutchman was visibly shaken, but it got worse…..he missed a stack of doubles in the second set and Richardson took it with a 120 finish.
During the break, Barney changed his flights and it seemed to make a difference…he hit back-to-back 180s and won the opening leg with a brilliant 11 darter against the throw.
That became 2-0 and it looked like normal service was about to be resumed…..unfortunately, Richardson hadn’t read the script!
Barney proceeded to miss three darts to win the set and every time he blew darts at doubles, Richardson stepped up and hit them!
In the fourth leg, The Dutch ace was sat on 65 to win the set again and incredibly, Richardson came up with another fantastic 145 check-out. It completely knocked the stuffing out of Barney.
Even so, a fifth Barneveld 180 in the deciding leg put him on course to win the set….he wired the bull for a 167, but then missed two more darts at D8.
They were to be the last darts he threw, as Richardson hit D16 to claim the biggest win of his life and THE biggest upset in the history of the PDC World Championship.
Barneveld cut a sorry figure as he left the Ally Pally stage and we can only hope that he regroups and comes back firing and ready to prove the doubters wrong in 2012.
But will we see him in the Premier League next year? Let’s hope so.
He is one of the greatest players in the history of darts, but this is one of his darkest hours in the sport.
Elsewhere on Sunday at the Ally Pally, Belgium’s Kim Huybrechts stunned World Grand Prix runner-up Brendan Dolan 3-0 to set up that 2nd Round showdown with James Richardson.
Dave Chisnall whitewashed Mark Dudbridge and the St Helens star will now take on Phil Taylor in round two!
And Mark Walsh came from a set down to beat New Zealand qualifier Warren French.
Sunday 1st Round results:
Brendan Dolan 0-3 Kim Huybrechts
Mark Dudbridge 0-3 Dave Chisnall
Raymond van Barneveld 0-3 James Richardson
Mark Walsh 3-1 Warren French
Monday World Championship 1st Round schedule:
Andy Hamilton v Antonio Alcinas
Mervyn King v Geoff Kime
Kevin Painter v Arron Monk
James Wade v Per Laursen/Petri Korte
By STURT PYKE at the Ally Pally
Photo courtesy Lawrence Lustig / PDC