PDC World Championship 2020 First Round preview: Raymond van Barneveld vs Darin Young

In the run-up to the 2020 PDC World Championship which begins on Friday, December 13, DartsNews takes a look at the 32 clashes in the first round.

The previews are done in order of the schedule; for the PDC World Championship. One or two previews are posted every day. The complete tournament schedule can be found via this link here.

Raymond van Barneveld vs. Darin Young

Time: Saturday December 14 at 9:10 PM

Head To Head: Raymond van Barneveld 2-0 Darin Young

Last meeting: Raymond van Barneveld 10-4 Darin Young - Grand Slam of Darts 2008 - Last 16

Number of previous PDC World Championship participations: Van Barneveld 13, Young 9

Best result Winner 2007 (Van Barneveld) ; Second Round 2010 (Young)

Preview

This tie will see two of the most experienced players in the field duke it out with one in particular saying farewell to the world of darts after this tournament.

That player is of course, Raymond van Barneveld who will aim to end it in style at the Alexandra Palace. Last year wasn't the perfect pre-cursor with a defeat early doors to Darius Labanauskas.

Due to his poor year and at times not wanting to qualify for tournaments, Van Barneveld has found himself in a difficult position; when he has Jeffrey de Zwaan potentially waiting for him.

Young as well is a classy operator and despite his record in the tournament, only one time out of the first round since his debut in 2005; he has flown the flag for American darts alongside Larry Butler for a long time and showed with his form on the CDC Tour and in World Series events that 'Big Daddy' has the steel to potentially make it the worst ending for the Dutch legend.

Prediction -

There is real questions over Van Barneveld and in particular his desire to play from the very start especially but with it being his last tournament, it won't be that that'll get in his way and the emotion of the occasion could spur the Dutch legend on to a good run. Young will likely push him close but Van Barneveld will likely move through with a prediction of Young 2-3 Van Barneveld.

It won't be as far off as some betting companies may see it as Young has shown his class in the past but it is overall one of the hardest first round ties to predict.