MEATH YOUNGSTER KEANE Barry crashed out of the PDC World Darts Championship as Michael van Gerwen opened his bid for a fourth world title in ruthless fashion.
Van Gerwen made light work of their second round clash on Tuesday night, racing to a 3-0 victory at the Alexandra Palace.
Duleek’s Barry — who averaged 95.81 to Van Gerwen’s 98.17 — was punished for wasteful darts when he had legs at his mercy, and was made to rue 14 missed darts at double.
Van Gerwen, who was last world champion in 2019, can now enjoy a Christmas break before the third round action commences on 27 December.
Barry was on the back foot immediately after missing five darts at double to lose his opening throw.
And he then squandered a chance to level the first set at 2-2 when he missed another two doubles with the leg at his mercy, allowing van Gerwen to close out the set.
167 CHECKOUT! 💥
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 19, 2023
MAGICAL FROM MICHAEL VAN GERWEN!
With Barry poised to break throw and take control of the second set, Van Gerwen responds with a roof-raising 167 checkout!
That was majestic! 👏 pic.twitter.com/arxrMBCatm
Barry, 21, had van Gerwen under pressure again early in the second, and looked poised to take a 2-0 lead, only for the Dutch master to land a magnificent 167 checkout to level the set and wrestle back control.
From there, van Gerwen pulled clear, taking the second set 3-1 and the third 3-0 to get his campaign off to a winning start.
“I’m a little disappointed with my scoring, the most important thing is I won my first game,” he said during his on-stage interview.
“You don’t want to let yourself down, you have to fight for every leg, and when things like the 167 work it gives you a great boost.
“It’s the first round of the World Championship no one wants to lose, there is pressure on me, like there is all the top boys. The most important thing is I’m back after Christmas.”
Matt Campbell is flying home for Christmas after sending 13th seed James Wade crashing out.
The world number 57 beat the four-time semi-finalist 3-2 to record the biggest win of his career and win back-to-back matches at Ally Pally for the first time in his career.
Wade, who became the first seeded player to exit the tournament, did not shake Campbell’s hand after the match but the Canadian had no hard feelings.
“I woudldn’t be happy either,” he said. “I guarantee if I see him now he would come down and be like nothing happened. But in that moment, we work all hard all year for this, I don’t blame him for being disappointed.”
Keegan Brown will not want to hear the name Boris Krcmar again after enduring a chastening afternoon, with the Croatian cruising to a 3-1 win.
Leading women’s player Mikuru Suzuki is still waiting for her first win at the Alexandra Palace after she was beaten 3-0 by German Ricardo Pietreczko.
Suzuki follows Fallon Sherrock out of the tournament.
There were also wins for Steve Beaton, Jeffrey de Graaf, Tomoya Goto and Mike De Decker.
– Additional reporting by Press Association
I suppose a natural development since Kilkenny’s physicality in the air has evolved the game into more of a physical battle. Hope there’s still a place for a Joe Deane or eoin Kelly type player in the modern game, hurling would be much poorer otherwise
There are not enough hardy lads in Tipp for the kind of game Ryan wants to impose .
I’d like to think you still need to be able to hurl to succeed tho. It’ll be interesting to see how Clare do with their pace and skill based game. I think it would be good for hurling to see them in croke park again. Hopefully Tipp can get the balance of brain and brawn right tho
Just because lads are after getting big and strong it does not mean that we after loosing a type of player.I think lads like TJ,Richie Hogan,JJ Delaney,Joe Canning and Callanan are just as skillful and class as Deane and Kelly.Just look at the player of the year nominees this year…….all three are like Houdini when they have a sliotar in their hands.Its the way the game is being played is changing.I think Kilkenny just brought more intensity rather than physicality,as the game was much more physical just as far back as 20 years ago.And more again 40 and 50yrs ago
For too long now ,Tipp have thrown away Munsters and all-Irelands due to their non physicality….
As Tommy Docherty once said when describing a Ladies team ” their lovely to look at,, but they wont hurt you ”
Maybe its time to bring back Hells Kitchen !!
I’m still scratching my head trying to figure out why maher was centre forward last year. I think right half back is his best position , in midfield he goes in and out of games. He’s more solid than Barrett.
Just as long as he doesn’t throw the baby out with the bath water. EOS was on the cusp of cracking it but his team lacked a bit of edge, not helped by injuries to the like if Mahony, Cahill, Stapleton etc. who add a bit of bite to the team. I would nearly prefer lose than sacrifice EOS’s hurling philosophy in favour of that sweeper system/ Donegal tactic that other teams are employing. Also if Michael Quinlivan can hurl he would be well worth a try.
That’s the worry Johnny, but I hope with the likes of bubbles, Callanan and Noel McGrath you have the bones of a hurling front 6 as opposed to a blunt battering ram. Galway even uppe’d the physicality stakes this year as well. Where’s it all going to end.. in puke football territory maybe? I like you still want to retain our nice brand of hurling identity if possible
Tipp need to find a few more players. No Denis Maher? The question you need to ask as a fan is how many of this squad would start on a Kilkenny first 15? 4-5 at a push, this is the bench mark for Tipp unfortunately.