PDC World Darts Championship Round-Up | James Wade eases through as Raymond van Barneveld out in abject Bellmont defeat

It was mixed fortunes for the legends of the game on Wednesday night with James Wade prevailing but the doyen of Dutch darts Raymond van Barneveld was abject in a soul searching loss at the PDC World Darts Championship. While Adam Sevada and Martin Schindler were the other winners in two matches that had big Tour Card repurcussions as the other big storylines tonight at Ally Pally.
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Wade was facing off against Ryusei Azemoto and it was both vintage Machine and also a performance that frustrated one of the form horses in world darts this year as his doubling was a bit poor at times and he let Azemoto in when perhaps he didn't need to.

He started with his trusty double 10 and followed it up breaking Azemoto after the Japanese ace missed darts to hold. But Wade missed his trusty double 10 for a 60 checkout for the set and Azemoto then broke back. But the first set finally went Wade's way as he hit 87 to go 1-0 up.

He hit double 10 for a 100 checkout to go 1-0 up and after Azemoto couldn't hit 140, he returned for double five to go 2-0 up. Wade missed multiple darts for the set though and Azemoto returned but missed three at double 20 and 'The Machine' hit double 10 for 2-0. Wade opened set three leading but still struggling at being his deadly best at doubles. But he managed to get over the line with Azemoto only registering one leg in defeat. A good display from Wade but certainly not in full flight yet.

While it was very much a night of soul searching to come certainly for Raymond van Barneveld and Matt Campbell after their respective defeats.

Van Barneveld was easily beaten by Stefan Bellmont and while his Tour Card isn't currently at risk, the narrative floating around is that potentially the Dutch legend should reconsider his darting future after a pretty poor few months.

For Bellmont, it was history as the first Swiss player to win at the PDC World Darts Championship and he performed superbly but for Barney it was very much the usual resigned to his fate kind of job that we've been getting used to as of late.

Bellmont hit first with a 78 checkout to break followed by double four for the Swiss ace for the opening set. Bellmont swept him with ease in the second set. He broke with a 52 checkout and sealed it on double 20. Bellmont missed 170 but Barney needed 157 which wasn't forthcoming and the Swiss ace took out double eight for 1-0 in the third set to break.

Bellmont missed multiple darts to hold but Barney was way back and he hit double 10 to go 2-0 up. An 80 checkout kept Barney in it but Bellmont was throwing for the win and he sealed it. Damon Heta is next while Barney will likely have to reconsider his future.

While Matt Campbell has lost his Tour Card after being defeated by American ace Adam Sevada. The CDC standout impressed and said that he booked his plane ticket home but didn't want to sit in the middle seat so was glad to still be here.

Sevada opened superbly with a 69 checkout to break. The CDC top dog and he was performing like it in the first leg. Sevada couldn't pin 98 though on his own throw and Campbell was back for 1-1. Campbell missed darts to go 2-1 up and Sevada was one away from the set. But he sealed the set.

Campbell levelled up in sets pinning 96 on double 18 for 1-1 in sets. A 100 checkout saw Campbell lead the third set but Sevada hit a 117 checkout to make it 1-1. Sevada broke to win the third set going 3-2 up and hitting a 70 checkout to go one away in this race to three. 'The Reaper' was a winner on debut. He hit a 56 checkout to break and sealed the win on double six.

While finally Martin Schindler is through to the second round and ends the tour card run also for Stephen Burton and gives hope for Robert Owen and Mario Vandenbogaerde.

After losing the second set, it was a pretty easy win for 'The Wall' who won through 3-1. To start Burton played well hitting a 180 and a 78 checkout to hold. Burton missed a dart at 78 and Schindler hit double one eventually for his first leg. Schindler was way ahead and made light work of the opening stanza to lead 1-0 with Burton starting brightly but he faded.

In the second set, Burton broke with a 70 checkout and holding on double 10. Missed darts from Schindler saw Burton sweep the set. But next set Schindler broke on double 18 for a 13-darter and he hit double 10 to hold. He missed a dart for 70 and Schindler returned for 3-0 and he went 2-1 up in sets. He swept the win from there breaking with an 11-darter in the form of a 59 checkout to go 2-0 up and he sealed the deal on double 20 to move through.