In a seismic opening-round upset at the PDC World Darts Championship, legendary five-time champion Raymond van Barneveld was emphatically dumped out of the tournament, losing 3-0 to Switzerland's Stefan Bellmont at Alexandra Palace.
Bellmont Makes Swiss Darts History
The 36-year-old from Cham produced a career-defining performance to dismantle the Dutch icon. Bellmont's victory marks a historic moment, as he becomes the first Swiss player ever to win a match at the World Darts Championship. Overwhelmed by his achievement, Bellmont immediately turned his thoughts to inspiring a new generation back home.
"I have no words for this. I'm proud of myself," said the elated winner. "This is a great experience for all Swiss people. Hopefully we will get more Swiss people playing darts." In stark contrast, a forlorn Van Barneveld cut a devastated figure as he made a swift exit from the stage, his championship dreams ended in straight sets.
Wade Cruises Through as Seeds Advance
Elsewhere on the opening night, the action proceeded more predictably for the seeded players. World number seven James Wade, a four-time semi-finalist at the Palace, enjoyed a comfortable passage into the second round. The left-hander dispatched Japan's Ryusei Azemoto in straight sets, dropping just a single leg in a dominant display.
Despite the convincing scoreline, Wade suggested fortune played its part. "That was more luck than judgment – thankfully he got more nervous than I did," he admitted. "I made the most of my opportunities. Textbook. I haven't won a game for three years, so I had put a lot of pressure on myself. I'm just happy to win and move forward." Wade will now face Ricky Evans in the next round.
Opening Night Sees International Flavour
The evening's proceedings at Ally Pally began with a North American clash, where the USA's Adam Sevada secured a 3-1 victory over Canada's Matt Campbell. The night was rounded off by German 13th seed Martin Schindler, who also recorded a 3-1 win against England's Stephen Burton to safely advance.
However, the night will be remembered for one stunning result. The early exit of the popular Dutchman, Raymond van Barneveld, serves as a powerful reminder of the drama and unpredictability that defines the World Darts Championship, where legends can fall and new heroes can be born in an instant.
