Bye bye Barney! Nick Kenny batters below-par Van Barneveld to set up showdown with Luke Humphries at World Darts Championship

Nick Kenny has set up a third round tie with Luke Humphries at the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship following the biggest victory of his career, 3-1 over five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld.

With the potential of a showdown in the next round with the reigning world champion looming large, Van Barneveld and Kenny got underway in a nervy opening set. With both players averaging in the low 80s, missed darts at double were aplenty in the early stages. In the end though, it was the Welshman that took it, despite missing more than half a dozen set darts in leg 4, to move 1-0 and land the first blow of the match.

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In the second set, Kenny, who had sealed an opening round victory over Stowe Buntz in style with a 170 checkout, continued to have full control of the momentum, racing through the first two legs to go 2-0 in the set, having the darts in leg 3 as well. 'Barney' broke the Kenny throw in leg 3 though, keeping himself alive in the set and the legendary Dutchman levelled up the set at 2-2 via double 15 in the following leg. Kenny had the darts in the decider, and kicked off powerfully with a 180. Nailing double 8 for a 15-darter, the Welshman secured the set and moved 2-0 up.

With Kenny missing a number of break opportunities in the opening leg of set 3, 'Barney' vitally held throw on double 18. The Dutchman then broke the Kenny throw in leg 2 to double his advantage in the set and grasp firm control of it. More missed doubles from both made for a dramatic third leg of the set, but eventually Van Barneveld took it to get back to just 2-1 behind.

Putting that disappointing set quickly out of his mind, Kenny held throw comfortably to open up set 4, stopping a run of three straight legs for Van Barneveld. 'Barney' then held his own throw to level up the set, but Kenny kept coming at the Dutchman, nailing double 16 to go one leg away from victory. As Van Barneveld missed two to keep the set alive, Kenny missed two at double 8 to seal the win, allowing 'Barney' to force a deciding leg to the set. As the Dutchman failed to put any pressure on the Kenny throw in leg 5 though, the Welshman had more matchdarts and eventually pinned double 4 for the match with his 9th matchdart.

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