Jelle out-Klasses Jaws

van Barneveld: Not happy despite 5-2 win in opening round

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Jelle Klaasen and Raymond van Barneveld both eased through to the last 16 of the European Championship in Frankfurt.

The Dutch duo both recorded 5-2 victories in their opening-round matches while there were also wins for James Wade and Adrian Lewis.

With several big names in action on Friday night Klaasen certainly impressed, easing past former world number one Colin Lloyd.

He managed a 13-darter to take a 3-0 lead and although 'Jaws' briefly threatened to bite back it was double four in leg seven that finished the match.

Poor finishing

Compatriot van Barnveld managed the same score against Andy Jenkins, though he didn't find life quite as easy.

Some poor finishing cost the five-time world champion dearly in the opening leg but he recovered in the second before a 116 checkout put him 2-1 ahead.

A 12-dart leg followed but he missed four darts at a double in the next before taking legs six and seven to seal his progression, though he knows that there is work to do if he wants to further in the tournament.

"I'm glad to be through but there's improvement in me and I can do better than I showed against Andy," he said afterwards.

Next up for Barney will be Dennis Priestley after the Yorkshireman recorded a 5-3 result against Jan van der Rassel.

Also through to the next round is world number three Wade, who wasted little time in disposing of Alex Roy.

Having won in Scotland recently to clinch his place in the competition Roy would have had high hopes of causing an upset against Wade.

However, a superb 135 finish on the bullseye from the left-hander set the tone for the match as he cruised to a 5-1 victory.

Lewis injured

Lewis was also in good form as he knocked out Hannes Schnier 5-2 before heading to hospital for stiches in a cut on his hand.

The Englishman played while wearing three plasters after attempting to catch a falling glass before he went on stage. He seemed to have few ill-effects from the damage but was taken for treatment.

In other results, Dennis Ovens opened up the action with a 5-1 success over Andy Hamilton while Alan Tabern won by the same scoreline against Chris Mason.

The final match of the night saw Peter Manley reel off four successive legs to knock out Kevin Painter 5-2.