Win for RVB at 2022 PDC World Championship

Last night was the night all Dutch darts fans have been looking forward to: The return of RVB at Ally Pally!

In round 1 he took on Lourence Ilagan. In set 1 it was a nervous start for both, but at 2-1, Van Barneveld hit a 13-darter to win the first set 3-1 in legs. Barney then really started going, while Ilagan wasn’t at his best, as a 121-finish saw the 5-time World Champion win the second set 3-0, as he went 2-0 up. In set 3 Barney went 1-0 up again, but then missed some doubles as Ilagan made it 1-1. However, that was his last leg: Van Barneveld won the next 2 legs for another 3-1 win, as he won the game 3-0 in sets! An average of almost 97 for RVB and a very impressive return, in his first win at the World Championship since december 2017 when he beat Vincent van der Voort in the last 16. RVB now takes on former World Champion Rob Cross in the last 64, on thursday night. 

Raymond van Barneveld 3-0 Lourence Ilagan (3-1, 3-0, 3-1)

But there was another Dutchman in action monday evening. Maik Kuivenhoven played his last 64 game against the World Number 4 James Wade. In set 1 both weren’t playing great yet, but it was Wade who won it 3-1 in legs. In set 2 Kuivenhoven got a lot of chances, but he didn’t take them as he lost this set 3-1 as well, and saw himself 0-2 down. In set 3 the man from Naaldwijk suddenly woke up, averaged a ton and won it 3-0 while Wade averaged below 80 this set. At 2-1 everything was still possible, as Kuivenhoven again got a lot of chances, but again didn’t take them, as Wade won this set 3-1 despite averaging below 80 again! A 3-1 win for Wade while averaging only 83. Painful defeat for Kuivenhoven, but he did get his first ever World Championship win last sunday. 

Maik Kuivenhoven 1-3 James Wade (1-3, 1-3, 3-0, 1-3)