BULLY BOY BATTERS BARNEY! Michael Smith absolutely destroys an out-of-sorts Raymond van Barneveld, only dropping one leg on his way to a comfortable 6-1 success! Up next 👉 Martin Schindler v Stephen Bunting #ECDarts | R1 📺 bit.ly/2023ECLive
Michael Smith eases past Van Barneveld as Stephen Bunting quietens German crowd by ending Schindler's hopes at European Championship
PDCThursday, 26 October 2023 at 22:35
Raymond van Barneveld did not come close to pulling off a shock against world champion Michael Smith at the European Darts Championship. Smith was simply too good for his opponent, taking a comfortable 6-1 victory.
Smith took advantage of a slow start for Barney early on with a break via double 12 and then doubled his advantage with a 13-darter. Van Barneveld then threw a 13-darter of his own, but then saw Smith throw out 107 to nudge ahead 3-1.
In the fifth leg, Smith again finished ruthlessly, doing so with an 86 checkout, giving him his second break. The world number one brought the score to 5-1 with a double 10 and then ended the match with a 14-darter. Smith recorded an average of almost 99, compared to 90 for Van Barneveld.
Besides Smith, his compatriot Stephen Bunting also reached the last sixteen of this tournament. 'The Bullet' played an excellent match against Martin Schindler and defeated the German 6-1 thanks to an average of over 101. Also, Bunting threw from no less than 75 percent, partly by throwing out 104 and 121.
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- I completely agree with Vincent's comments on "whistlegate". It's great to have someone with Vincent's exprience address this issue, so hopefully clearer and stricter guidlelines can be given to referees, security and members of the crowd. No whistling during throws, and something like: whistlers evicted and fined a hefty sum.
UndartedWaters19-11-2024 - Luke Littler played incredible darts yesterday in the semi-final and the final, heralding a new era of darts (along with some of the other brilliant young players who are emerging). And yet, at Luke's celebration feast, de Decker's ghost is Banquo to Littler's Macbeth, mournfully looking on.UndartedWaters18-11-2024
- Am not outraged and as said above i dont like anyone from any country doing it to anyone from any country. Whoever is going for a double should have best of order.Mysstree17-11-2024
- Say what? It happens in other countries; Littler in January - this year (Holland), go and watch the evidence on YouTube. If it is going to be done to English players, then we are more than entitled to dish the same back when players face off in England. When it happened to Littler in Holland in January... where was your outrage then? ABE attitude.MrYnyslas197117-11-2024
- I dont like individuals or crowds trying to put any player off when they are trying to check out, how anyone can think its okay for the crowd to whistle or shout as someone is throwing for a double is beyond me but it does seem to have become part and parcel of the modern game. I no longer play now, darts is as good as dead at a local level round my way but when i did play many years ago, no matter how intense the rivalry you never shouted out or whistled when an opponent from the other team was throwing for a double.Mysstree17-11-2024