World Darts Championship: James Wade breezes into second spherical after Raymond van Barneveld thrashed at Alexandra Palace

James Wade made a successful begin to his bid for an elusive maiden World Darts Championship title, as former champion Raymond van Barneveld crashed out on the Alexandra Palace.

Wade – a two-time main TV finalist this 12 months – had misplaced every of his earlier three World Darts Championship matches however prevented making one other early exit with a straight-sets victory over Japan’s Ryusei Azemoto.

‘The Machine’ dropped only one leg throughout a dominant show, the place he barely wanted to get out of first gear on his strategy to a primary victory on the Alexandra Palace stage since his run to the semi-finals within the 2022 version.

Wade posted a 94.75 common and now faces a second-round showdown with Ricky Evans, whereas Van Barneveld – a five-time world champion – was dumped out in straight units by Switzerland’s Stefan Bellmont.

thirteenth seed Martin Schindler claimed a 3-1 victory over Stephen Burton, whereas American Adam Sevada made a successful begin to his World Darts Championship debut after beating Canada’s Matt Campbell by the identical margin.

Van Barneveld struggles in first-round thrashing

The followers’ favorite acquired a heat welcome from the Ally Pally crowd forward of his record-equalling thirty third World Championship look and opened with a tidy 14-dart maintain, solely to shortly fall behind in a one-sided contest.

Bellmont responded along with his personal 14-darter to spark a run of eight consecutive legs, together with a 96 checkout in the beginning of the second set, with spectacular ending seeing him pull away from the Dutchman.

Van Barneveld provided transient hope by taking out an 80 end to carry throw, just for Bellmont to shut out victory within the subsequent leg to develop into the primary Swiss participant to win on the occasion.

The 58-year-old is ready to fall down the PDC Order of Merit after his first-round exit, with questions now being raised about how for much longer Van Barneveld – who hasn’t reached the quarter remaining on the World Championship since 2018 – will proceed to compete on the highest degree.

“I don’t want to kick a player when he’s down, but he didn’t look happy up there,” former Premier League champion Glen Durrant advised Sky Sports. “Father time catches up on you – it is troublesome that longevity. That’s why I love gamers who’ve been round such a very long time.

“To see a great, an icon, the guy who set off Dutch darts to where it’s now, it’s tough to see. I hope Barney bounces back but it’s very difficult when you’re in that downward trajectory.”

Wade breezes by way of to finish Ally Pally shedding streak

The seventh seed shortly took management of his contest by opening with a 15-darter and breaking Azemoto within the subsequent, then responded to his opponent taking out an 80 end by wrapping the opening set with an 87 checkout.

Wade raced by way of the second set in straight legs, opening with a 100 end on tops and scrappily holding throw within the subsequent after wayward ending from each gamers, then raced by way of the third in related style to keep away from a first-round exit.

“I’m really happy,” Wade advised Sky Sports. “Tonight showed the practice I’ve been doing. It wasn’t spectacular but when I needed to hit something and do something, it happened.

“I have felt better coming here, but have also felt a lot worse. He [Ricky Evans in round two] will have to play well to beat me. I will have to play well to beat him. He knows my abilities, and I know his. We will see how it goes.”

The efficiency of the evening got here from Schindler within the remaining match, firing a 99.14 common and posting seven maximums, with the German successful every of his final six legs and now going through both Australia’s Tim Pusey or Ireland’s Keane Barry within the subsequent spherical.

“I was good on the 180s,” Schindler advised Sky Sports. “When I needed key shots, I did it. The German fans here are so good, it’s really great! Feeling-wise my finishing wasn’t great. I’m happy to get through because it’s not easy here at the Worlds.”

The opening match of the night noticed Sevada arrange a second-round assembly with fellow debutant Charlie Manby after capitalising on missed doubling from Campbell throughout his 3-1 victory.

Campbell recovered from going a set down by following a 13-darter with a 96 checkout to grab the second in a final-leg decider. The American missed two units darts within the third and was punished by Sevada, who then gained the following in straight legs to progress.

What’s developing on Thursday?

Last 12 months’s quarter-finalist Callan Rydz kicks off Thursday’s double session when he faces Patrik Kovacs, earlier than Thibault Tricole performs Motomu Sakai and Ryan Joyce – who took Luke Littler to a final-set decider in final 12 months’s fourth-round conflict – takes on Owen Bates.

Former World Grand Prix champion Mike de Decker rounds off the afternoon session towards David Munyua, whereas Jermaine Wattimena begins the night motion towards Dominik Gruellich forward of Dave Chisnall enjoying ‘Queen of the Palace’ Fallon Sherrock.

Three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen headlines day eight and begins his match towards Mitsuhiko Tatsunami, a 12 months on from a runner-up end to Littler, earlier than Krzysztof Ratajski goes up towards Alexis Toylo within the remaining match of the evening.

Who will win the Paddy Power World Darts Championship? Watch each match solely dwell all through till Saturday January 3 on Sky Sports’ devoted darts channel. Stream darts and extra high sport with NOW.