Van Barneveld delighted to secure World Matchplay return: "This is one of my goals achieved for this year"

Raymond van Barneveld has made a good start to the European Darts Matchplay. Thanks to a 6-3 victory in the opening round against George Killington, 'Barney' also secured a return to Blackpool for the upcoming World Matchplay.

It's actually the first time in five years that van Barneveld will be at the Winter Gardens. "This was a vital win for me in my quest to qualify for the big TV events later this year," he told the PDC's website. "I want to qualify for the World Matchplay, the World Grand Prix, the European Championship, so this is one of my goals achieved for this year."

First things first though, 'Barney' has a difficult task next up in Trier. A second round tie with his old rival, Michael van Gerwen.

"I will have to play much better to do anything against Michael in the next round, I will need to put a few points on my average," van Barneveld acknowledges. "The game is there; in practice I was hitting 180s and 140s but on stage I hit too may 60s, so that's something I need to sort out for tomorrow."