No early sli-up from Barney

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.

The experienced Dutchman was the victim of a huge upset 12 months ago when he was beaten 3-0 by James Richardson but he had no such concerns tonight as he whitewashed Smith in just 18 minutes with a brilliant three-dart average of 108.31.