Break boosts Barney

Barney hoping to follow Dutch football footsteps in Blackpool

Last updated: 17th July 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Break boosts Barney

Van Barneveld: Blackpool hope

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World Matchplay Darts
Starts Saturday July 17
7pm, Sky Sports HD1 & 1

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Raymond van Barneveld returns from a two-month break from darts in Blackpool hoping to emulate the Dutch football team and go all the way to the final of the StanJames.com World Matchplay.

Barney will be part of the opening night of action at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on Saturday when he faces Denis Ovens in the first round.

World number two van Barneveld did not qualify for last month's UK Open and has had a two-month break off the oche, which he feels has freshened him up.

After the Premier League finals Barney has been relaxing and travelled to South Africa to cheer on Holland in the World Cup, where they reached the final.

Although they eventually lost to Spain, van Barneveld feels the experience, and the break from darts, will stand him in good stead for the World Matchplay.

Break

"The break has been really good for me," said van Barneveld. "The time off was nice for me and I had a relaxing time watching the World Cup, first at home but then last week in Cape Town and at the final in Johannesburg.

"I've practice a lot during my break and I'm full of confidence. I noticed too during the break that I missed the darts and I'm really looking forward to playing in the World Matchplay.

"I've known Denis for years and he is one of the most dangerous players in the floor tournaments but he is playing really well on TV now and has more self-confidence so I know what I'm going to face."

Five-time world champion Barney has struggled for consistent form this year but he hopes a break will see him come back stronger than ever in Blackpool.

The tournament will open when veteran Dennis Priestley, who turned 60 on Friday, faces Vincent van der Voort, the fast-throwing Dutchman who reached the quarter-finals in Blackpool last summer.

Colin Osborne, the 2009 UK Open runner-up, faces Wayne Jones and Blackpool's Ronnie Baxter takes on Jamie Caven in Saturday's other games on the tournament's opening night, which will be played in front of a sell-out 2,000-strong crowd.

The StanJames.com World Matchplay will be screened in its entirety live on Sky Sports, with High Definition coverage throughout the event accompanied by coverage in 3D for the semi-finals and final - the first time darts has been covered in 3D.

Fans can log on to www.sky.com/3dpubs to find their nearest location to watch the StanJames.com World Matchplay in 3D.