Wednesday 21 December 2016 15:16, UK
Raymond Van Barneveld got his bid for a sixth World Darts Championship off to a perfect start with a straight sets win over Robbie Green.
The Dutchman posted an average of 98.45 and dropped just two legs in a convincing display, setting up a second round clash against Alan Norris.
After the pair traded the first two legs, Van Barneveld shot his trademark 156 checkout to complete a 12-darter and broke Green in the next to claim the opening set.
Van Barneveld broke again with a 120 checkout on his way to winning the second 3-1, before whitewashing Green in third.
"It looked easy but it was not a great game," Van Barneveld told Sky Sports. "I have known Robbie a long time and he is a quality player, but it just didn't happen for him tonight."
Simon Whitlock also raced in to round two, closing with finishes of 170 and 158 to see off qualifier Draugtin Horvat in straight sets.
Horvat, who came back from a set down to beat Boris Koltsov in the preliminary round, missed the bull for a 161 finish during the opening legs.
Whitlock didn't drop a set in the first set and found the bull to see away 91 and break in the second, before finding three big checkouts in the third to book a tie with Darren Webster.
"I controlled it from the start, I felt very comfortable," Whitlock told Sky Sports. "I've had a really hard last four months just to prepare for this one tournament."
Brendan Dolan secured his spot in the next round with a 3-1 victory over former BDO world champion Christian Kist.
Dolan raced through the first set but didn't post a leg in the next, before reclaiming the advantage by whitewashing the Dutchman in the third.
The pair shared the first two legs in the fourth, before Dolan signed off his victory by taking out 54 and 61.
"That is probably the best I have played at the World Championship," Dolan told Sky Sports. "I have struggled for 18 months but felt I was improving in October and November and my confidence was getting better."
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