"There's no-one really dominating anymore..": Keane Barry sees opening after glut of new winners
PDC
In a particularly high-profile first-round match, Keane Barry won 3-1 over Kim Huybrechts on Sunday night at the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship. After securing the win in a high-quality match that featured 17 180s, Barry will now take on tenth-seeded former world champion Gerwyn Price in the second round.
Barry, who managed to win only two matches in five previous World Darts Championships, lost the first set against Huybrechts, but then managed to take the win thanks to three 100+ finishes and a double percentage of 50%, among other things. 'Dynamite' posted an average of 94.97 versus his opponent's 96.92.
Follow the 2025 World Darts Championship via our LIVE SCORE!
“It’s a great feeling. I’m really happy with that performance,” reflected a delighted Barry in his post-match press conference. “I have struggled in the past on the World Championship stage, especially with my doubles, but I felt really comfortable tonight. I’m feeling confident in my game, and hopefully I can keep playing like that, because I know I’m capable of even better.”
Barry is also able to take some inspiration from the recent spat of surprising major finalists. Although the Irishman is a former UK Open semifinalist in own right, a potentially deep run at the Alexandra Palace could see his vast potential finally come to fruition. "There's no one really dominating anymore," he notes. "I always believe in myself, I always believe every tournament I'm in, I'm going to win and want to win. If you don't have belief in yourself, then there's no point showing up."
In the second round, Barry takes on the aforementioned Gerwyn Price this Monday night. "I'll have to probably improve a little bit more, but I'm well able to play play like that again and play even better," he previews determinedly. "But yeah, I'm feeling good and I'm feeling confident."
Read also
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- Meritocracy in the PDC is bit by bit being replaced by nepotism.Mysstree15-01-2025
- It's so disappointing the Modus Super Series is no longer on TV. Watching it on YouTube is not really the same. It's absolutely excellent and most importantly Richie Burnett is competing this week, Richie seems to want to headbutt the board when collecting his darts.richieburnettrocks14-01-2025
- I want him to do well this year, but Mike de Decker needs to settle himself, and let his darts do the talking. There's no need to make it easier for the PDC to overlook him in the future.
UndartedWaters14-01-2025 - 2024 was "the year of the underdog", but in reality showed the depth of talent in the PDC. Too deep for the PDC apparently, who got spooked and pulled out the bath plug, most likely to the detriment of the sport. I am sure most fans would want up-and-coming players to be given a hand up, not a slap down.UndartedWaters13-01-2025
- World Series of Darts = Premier League = Missed OpportunityUndartedWaters13-01-2025
- Newly relegated Tour Card holders made up 26/256 of the Q School Final Stage field: 10.16%. They won 3/29 of the Tour Cards on offer: 10.34%. This suggest that the 'worst of the best' are of a similar standard to the 'best of the rest' which is notable but surely unsurprising.Scoobedybop13-01-2025
- Now this is a heart-warming story. A top-32 pro-player giving up his time to help out in a humble role at Q school. Well done Ricardo.UndartedWaters12-01-2025
- How is going on holiday with your family a snub?Mysstree12-01-2025
- Gutted to hear about Wynand, he was one of those one off championship characters that you always remember. He beat Manley at his own game. Maish was the VAT fiddler. I think it was Webster, Wynand should have beaten in that 3rd round. Thank you Wynand for those brief but everlasting memories.richieburnettrocks11-01-2025
- This coming from the lowest ranked player in it who was only selected by his paranoia for attention from the crowd by having to conduct the crowd to his walk on music. I know a lot of darts fans who cannot stand Arsepinall, oddly I know people who don't like darts but frequently attend events for the atmosphere and have no idea who was playing. So for all the whining players not selected, change your walk on music and pathetically beg for affection from the crowd....please cheer for me ohhh please cheer.richieburnettrocks11-01-2025