Raymond van Barneveld opens up on 'satisfying' World Darts Championship second-round win

The penultimate day of action before the Christmas break saw eight second round ties take place at Alexandra Palace, as 2007 champion Van Barneveld made a winning return to the capital.

The Dutch legend – roared on by a partisan crowd – averaged 99.81 and pinned 11 of his 20 darts at double to defeat Polish debutant Radek Szaganski 3-1 in a high-quality affair.

Szaganski won the game’s opening leg, before Van Barneveld reeled off six without reply to assume control, wrapping up the opener with an 11-darter, and landing 86 and 104 checkouts to maintain his charge.

The spirited Szaganski followed up a 118 outshot with 15 and 13-dart legs to stay afloat in set three, but Van Barneveld kept his poise in a high-quality fourth set, sealing the deal with a two-dart 80 kill.

“I’m really satisfied with that performance,” admitted Van Barneveld, who will play Peter Wright’s conqueror Jim Williams for a place in the last 16.

“Radek won a ProTour a few months ago, so I was warned. I knew it was going to be a tough game, but there was a lot of pressure on me tonight, so I’m really happy.

“The Ally Pally is what it’s all about. You can’t compare this tournament with any other; this is the one that every player wants to win.”

Photo Credit: PDC