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Over before it began: Barry Keane. PA

Ireland's Keane Barry crashes out on opening night of World Darts Championships

The Meath 20-year-old was stunned by South Africa’s Grant Sampson in a big first-round upset.

IRISH YOUNGSTER KEANE Barry has been knocked out of the PDC World Darts Championship at the first hurdle.

The Meath 20-year-old was stunned by South Africa’s Grant Sampson in a big first-round upset on opening night.

It was a memorable debut on the biggest stage for Sampson, who won 3-1 on his Ally Pally bow.

“Wow, still pumped with adrenaline,” Sampson said afterwards. “Honestly, it was amazing. The crowd was awesome, wow. Back home, we only play in front of 50 people so to play in front of a crowd like that was beautiful. I enjoyed every minute.”

Asked about beating Barry — “one of the most exciting talents in the game,” as the interviewee put it — he added:

“I’m very, very, very proud of that. It is the biggest night of my life. I won’t be able to sleep tonight!”

Elsewhere, Ronnie O’Sullivan’s search for a first ranking title of the season continued as he crashed out 4-1 to world number 43 Martin Gould at the second-round stage of the English Snooker Open.

But Gould’s good fortune did not continue as he returned in the evening session to lose his last-16 clash by the same score to Ashley Hugill, a result that sent the York player into the quarter-finals of a ranking event for the first time.

And Judd Trump gained revenge over Thepchaiya Un-Nooh to move into the quarter-finals.

- Additional reporting from Press Association

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