Raymond van Barneveld swept through to the 2nd Round of the World Matchplay with a terrific performance…..and all thanks to Team Unicorn!
The Dutchman trounced Steve Brown 10-3 to set up a showdown with Paul Nicholson – using brand new darts fresh out of the packet, after he forgot to bring his own!
It all happened on another dramatic night in Blackpool, which saw Paul Nicholson beat Colin Osborne in the tie-break and James Wade whitewashed Jamie Caven in the other all Unicorn clash on Sunday.
Barneveld will now take on Nicholson in the 2nd Round!
Barney misplaced his darts and Unicorn Managing Director Edward Lowy stepped in with an SOS phone call to A180 Darts owner Karl Holden.
A180 are a major Unicorn customer and Holden was able to race to his shop in St Helens, grab a set of identical Barneveld darts and hot foot it up the M6 to Blackpool to bail the Dutchman out of a big hole!
“It was all my own fault,” admitted the Dutchman. “I was practicing with Co Stompe at the weekend back home in Holland and put my darts back in the boot of the car but must have just forgotten to put them in my case!”
“So a massive thanks to Unicorn for all they have done to help. I also borrowed some stems from Gary Anderson so thank you to him. I owe everyone a big debt of gratitude.”
Well, they certainly did the trick.
After Brown missed three darts to win the opening leg, Barneveld took control. He averaged around the 100 mark for most of the match and looked relaxed on the stage.
He has also lost a stone-and-a-half in weight and he looked and felt a lot better for it.
Brown didn’t get a look in…..from 6-1 in front, Barney was in cruise control. He hit three 180s and was consistently good on the doubles, until right at the end when he missed five match darts before clinching the comfortable 10-3 win.
And yes, he will stick with those darts for Wednesday’s showdown with Nicholson!
Nicholson held his nerve to see off a brave Colin Osborne in another Matchplay thriller!
‘The Asset’ was forced to produce approaching his best to win in overtime.
Osborne set the tone early on by hitting a 126 bull finish to take the opening leg against the throw.
And six of the first ten legs were won against the throw! It was five apiece and there for the taking! We’d seen three ton plus finishes, four 180s for Nicholson and three for Osborne.
It was nip ‘n’ tuck and a great scrap, as Nicholson’s finishing kept him in front. Leading 7-6, he had missed only two doubles! Osborne hit back with two 11 darters and you just couldn’t separate them!
But a 6th maximum and 13 darter from Nicholson edged him front at 9-8 and he pressurised his opponent to set up match point, but the Geordie then dramatically missed four darts to win it and Osborne nailed D10 to take us to a tie-break.
Nicholson missed another match dart at ‘tops’ to win 11-9 but finally sealed a thrilling victory on D10 after banging in an 8th maximum. It was tough on Osborne and Nicholson admitted as much.
“I thought Colin was the better player if I’m honest,” he said. “I struggled to find an extra gear but despite missing all those match darts, I still believed in myself and that was vital,” Nicholson said.
The other all Unicorn clash failed to fire but James Wade won’t be complaining, as he started his World Matchplay bid with a hammering of Jamie Caven at the Winter Gardens.
You have to feel sorry for Caven, who has endured a disappointing year and we all know he is so much better than he is showing at the moment.
The whitewash was completed in less than half-an-hour….poor Caven had 12 attempts at a double and missed the lot….Wade didn’t have to motor out of second gear.
He hit finishes of 86, 96 (D18 ‘tops’) and won it in style with a brilliant 136 check-out.
Wade averaged only 87 and he will improve as the week goes on.
Wade will now take on Mark Walsh in the 2nd Round…..Walsh disposed of an out-of-sorts Dave Chisnall 10-3.
Sunday 1st Round results:
Paul Nicholson 12-10 Colin Osborne
Mark Walsh 10-3 Dave Chisnall
James Wade 10-0 Jamie Caven
Raymond van Barneveld 10-3 Steve Brown
Of course, Phil Taylor starts his bid for an incredible 12th World Matchplay crown on Monday, when he takes on Mark Hylton. That is the highlight of day three at the Winter Gardens, when Wes Newton also enters the fray, as he bids for his first ever win in his ‘home’ event.
Monday schedule:
Wayne Jones v Scott Rand
Mervyn King v Justin Pipe
Phil Taylor v Mark Hylton
Wes Newton v Andy Smith
By STUART PYKE at the Winter Gardens
Photos courtesy Lawrence Lustig / PDC