Former champion Raymond van Barneveld put last year’s shock opening-round exit behind him with a superb performance tonight to thrash Michael Smith 3-0 and progress through to the second round of the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship.

MARK DUDBRIDGE withstood another superb Wayne Mardle fightback to win an exhilarating Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship semi-final 6-4 at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet last night.