SENSATIONAL FROM SEARLE! Ryan Searle storms through to round two in Dortmund with a dominant 6-2 victory against Raymond van Barneveld, averaging over 101 in the process! 📺 bit.ly/EC24Live #ECDarts24 | R1
"I took a beating here tonight" - Van Barneveld sees self confidence take a blow with Searle loss at European Championship
PDCFriday, 25 October 2024 at 10:00
For Raymond van Barneveld, the 2024 European Championship ended in a major disappointment. The 57-year-old Dutchman, who in the past twice reached the semifinals of this PDC major, went down 6-2 against Ryan Searle in his opening round match on Thursday night in Dortmund, Germany.
Van Barneveld, who started the tournament as the 25th seed, did not play dreadfully but was still comfortably second best against a very impressive Searle. "I knew beforehand that this was going to be a very difficult match," Van Barneveld reflected to Dutch media afterwards. "I've never actually seen Searle throw badly before."
"I could not find enough trebles, although on the practice board it went very well. Only when I was down 5-0 I could throw some very good legs," adds the legendary Dutchman. "Maybe it was because I was suddenly more relaxed at the board. I threw another 10-darter and even had chances to reduce the deficit even further, but realistically the calf was already drowned by then. Ryan was simply the rightful winner tonight. He played extremely well and was in control of the match the whole time."
Raymond van Barneveld in action at the European Darts Championships
Despite the heavy defeat, it was certainly not that Van Barneveld underperformed. "I am throwing 96 average here and that is indeed not bad, but he punishes everything and just leaves me without a chance," he said. "Averages don't really say anything, I took a beating here tonight, that's basically what it comes down to."
With the Grand Slam of Darts, the Players Championship Finals and the World Darts Championship, there are still a number of majors on the schedule in the coming months. "On to the next one, but the quick elimination at this tournament certainly doesn't do any good for my self-confidence," Van Barneveld concluded.
Van Barneveld will be back in action next week, when Players Championship 29 and 30 will be played in Leicester, the last of this year.
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- What a paltry pay day. Is the Championship going to be on TV or YouTube. I still believe the BBC sunk the BDO when they dumped it for that ridiculous champions league that also died without trace. The prize money for the girls is terrible, why can't they win the same as the boys. It will hardly entice girls to enter the sport. Although hell knows what the future is for darts with the transgender craze.richieburnettrocks24-10-2024
- "Surely darts has little to do with physicality?" If that was true, there would not be women's events for the mentally ill bloke to play in.thebogeyman24-10-2024
- My god what a clown this guy is.... So REAL women should take pills to suppress natural processes to make it equal as he does not have such symptoms? And no: you are not winning because you put in the time and money, you are winning because you have an unfair advantage. Men play better than women, it is a fact. And let's not forget he was in the top 10 of the world in the boys earlier in life!DannyJ23-10-2024
- My god what a clown this guy is.... So REAL women should take pills to suppress natural processes to make it equal as he does not have such symptoms? And no: you are not winning because you put in the time and money, you are winning because you have an unfair advantage. Men play better than women, it is a fact. And let's not forget he was in the top 10 of the world in the boys earlier in life!DannyJ23-10-2024
- Yep... that is correct... that XY male will be at home with the other men.MrYnyslas197123-10-2024