Sport Darts World Cup
40 years age difference – a duel like no other sport can deliver
As of: 5:25 p.m. | Reading time: 4 minutes
He wants even more: Raymond van Barneveld is in the round of 16 for the first time since the 2018 World Cup
Source: dpa/Zac Goodwin
At the Darts World Cup in London there will be an unequal round of 16 in the round of 16 on Saturday evening. 56-year-old Raymond van Barneveld meets 16-year-old debutant Luke Littler. The legend chooses a comparison with Boris Becker.
The 14th British Darts Organization (BDO) World Darts Championship took place from January 4th to January 12th 1991 at Frimley Green’s Lakeside Country Club. Raymond van Barneveld took on Australian Keith Sullivan in the first round. The Dutchman was 24 years old and lost his World Cup debut 3-0.
“Barney” is currently playing his 31st World Cup and a lot has happened since then. The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) was founded in 1992, but the BDO disappeared after bankruptcy in 2020, and the postman from The Hague became one of the great legends of his sport. He has been world champion five times and he doesn’t think it is out of the question that another title will be added.
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At least he made it to the round of 16 in London this time. The last time he got this far was six years ago. Finally, a great success, he celebrates his 57th birthday in April. In order to stay in the tournament beyond the turn of the year and possibly even make it into the World Cup final on January 3rd, he first has to defeat Luke Littler on Saturday evening.
It celebrated its premiere on a big stage in London 32 years after van Barneveld and has been the big story of the tournament so far. The Englishman cannot remember Barney’s performance against Sullivan. He wasn’t born then. When he was born on January 21, 2007, van Barneveld had won his fifth and final world title three weeks earlier in the biggest match in darts history. Barney’s heyday occurs entirely before his opponent’s birth.
In focus: Luke Littler writes a darts fairy tale at the World Cup
Quelle: Getty Images/Warren Little
But Littler has no problem with the big stage at Alexandra Palace or the age of his opponents on his debut. On his debut he first defeated BDO world champion Christian Kist (37) 3-0, then the reigning UK Open champion Andrew Gilding (53) had no chance at 1-3, and Matt Campell (34) also had a 1-game scoreline. 4 left behind.
Comparisons with Boris Becker and van Gerwen
So now Barney, which leads to a duel that probably can’t happen at World Cup level in any other sport. 40 year age difference – a 16 year old challenges a 56 year old. And the veteran joins in on the hype surrounding the child prodigy: “There’s a 16-year-old who plays incredible darts. When I watch darts I want to see guys like him. I like it quick and fluid, the cheering. All the 180s and 140s. That’s what this game is all about. He is a character, junior world champion. I have big respect. If you do that in series, like he did, and then on the big stage, then that’s just great quality,” says van Barneveld: “To win three games on this stage at the age of 16 is just pure quality. At his first game, I was sitting in a restaurant, looking at the TV: a 107 average, and I just thought, Wow, this guy is unstoppable. He reminded me of the young Michael van Gerwen.”
Given Littler’s confidence and looseness, many believe that the super talent will make a big splash at this World Cup. This also applies to van Barneveld, who not only recognizes parallels to van Gerwen: “We all saw Boris Becker back then, who won Wimbledon here at the age of 17. He has fantastic equipment, good people around him,” he reasons, but will do everything to prevent exactly that: “I’m still here. And I’m a troublemaker, believe me. When I play my good game, I’m hard to beat. I believe in myself again and feel better than ever in the last three or four years.”
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For his match, he remembered a habit he had actually gotten rid of. Van Barneveld is considering wearing his earplugs again like he used to: “The audience will of course support this boy. I know what’s coming.”
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He wants to ignore everything, not against his particular opponent, but against himself and the board, and has identified a weakness in Littler: “I’m warned because of his performance. But his opponents have missed many doubles in their previous games. If I meet her it could be a different game.”
Darts World Cup, round of 16 on December 30th
Scott Williams (ENG) – Damon Heta (AUS/10) 4:1 (3:2; 1:3; 3:2; 3:1; 3:2)
Daryl Gurney (NIR/27) – Dave Chisnall (ENG/11) 2:4 (2:3; 2:3; 3:2; 3:0; 0:3; 1:3)
Rob Cross (ENG/8) – Jonny Clayton (WAL/9) 4:0 (3:0; 3:1; 3:1; 3:2)
from 8.15 p.m.:
Brendan Dolan (NIR/28) – Gary Anderson (SCO/21)
Luke Littler (ENG) – Raymond van Barneveld (NED/29)
Luke Humphries (ENG/3) – Joe Cullen (ENG/14)
