15 hours ago
9
The five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld was left stunned after falling to a straight-sets defeat by Switzerland’s Stefan Bellmont in their first-round clash at Alexandra Palace.
Bellmont produced the performance of his career to become the first Swiss player win a match at the World Darts Championship. The 36-year-old from Cham hopes that his success will inspire a wave of darts enthusiasts in his home country.
“I have no words for this. I’m proud of myself. This is a great experience for all Swiss people. Hopefully we will get more Swiss people playing darts,” he said. Bellmont will face Australia’s Damon Heta in the second round. “Damon is a brilliant player, but I will give my best and we will see what happens on Sunday,” he told PDC.tv.
James Wade, the world No 7 who is a four-time semi-finalist at Alexandra Palace, brushed aside Japan’s Ryusei Azemoto in straight sets. Wade dropped just one leg and now faces Ricky Evans in round two.
“That was more luck than judgment – thankfully he got more nervous than I did,” Wade said. “I made the most of my opportunities. Textbook. I haven’t won a game for three years, so I had put a lot of pressure on myself. I’m just happy to win and move forward.”
The night’s action began with the American Adam Sevada overcoming Canada’s Matt Campbell 3-1 and ended with 13th seed Martin Schindler beating England’s Stephen Burton by the same score.
Burton had threatened to spring a surprise after winning set two without reply to level the match, only for Schindler to reply with six legs in a row – aided by an impressive tally of seven 180s.
“It was definitely a good performance,” said Schindler, who is tipped by some as a dark horse to go far at Ally Pally. “I don’t feel any pressure on my shoulders, because I’m here for myself.”
“I’m aware that fans and pundits are looking at me and they want me to win, but I need to perform and do my job, and that’s the most important thing,” added the German No 1, who will face Keane Barry or Tim Pusey in the last 32.
Thursday’s schedule includes eight first-round matches, with Michael van Gerwen starting his campaign against Japan’s Mitsuhiko Tatsunami, while Dave Chisnall takes on “Queen of the Palace” Fallon Sherrock.
