World Darts Championship: Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld in action
Sunday 27 December 2015 19:32, UK
With the second round at the World Darts Championship now into full swing, Sunday's action has a strong Dutch feel to it.
World No 1 Michael van Gerwen and five-time champion of the world Raymond van Barneveld headline the action at Alexandra Palace.
Live World Darts Championship
The afternoon session sees 'The Bronzed Adonis' Steve Beaton kick things off against world No 8 Michael Smith.
The 51-year-old Beaton, 1996 Lakeside champion, will be looking to reach the quarter-finals of the PDC version for the first time.
But 25-year-old dark horse Smith, playing in his fifth world championship, will be favourite, although he is not looking too far ahead. He told the Daily Star: "They had me in the quarter-finals. They are thinking too far ahead. Every game is a tough one. You cannot think too far ahead."
Belgian ace Dimitri Van den Bergh, currently ranked 86 in the PDC Order of Merit, will be showing off his dancing moves when he walks out to 'Happy' by Pharrell Williams. He goes up against 22-year-old Dutchman Benito van de Pas in a tie which will offer a glimpse into the future of darts.
The final match of the afternoon session pits rapid-fire Vincent van der Voort against powerful Australian scorer Kyle Anderson.
In the evening session, Van Barneveld takes on Stephen Bunting in a repeat of their quarter-final clash last year which ended in tears for the man from St Helens.
Live World Darts Championship
2007 PDC champion Van Barneveld hailed the former BDO champion as an amazing player live on-stage after their encounter.
"I have looked up to Raymond for a long time," 40-year-old Bunting told the Daily Mail. "He is one of them who made the switch from Lakeside as well and has been successful. I know I'm going to have to produce my best darts to beat Barney but they are there in the locker. I'm sure it will be a great game."
Simon Whitlock, Ian White and Robert Thornton were among the top 10 seeds to fall by the wayside in the first round and James Wade is not keen on joining them ahead of his battle with the 'Warrior', Wes Newton.
Van Gerwen rounds off the entertainment in north London as he continues his bid to add to the title his won two years ago when he takes on Norwich-based thrower Darren Webster.
The flying Dutchman needed a final set tie-break to edge rookie Rene Eidams 3-2 and the 'Demolition Man' Webster, who beat John Henderson 3-1, believes he can cause a major upset.
"I'm sure Michael is a mega odds-on favourite and I'm an outsider who has been given no hope," he told the Eastern Daily Press. "But if a German qualifier, who people would have said wasn't even on the same planet as Michael, nearly beat him it shows it's all about what happens on the day."
Sunday December 27
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm)
Michael Smith v Steve Beaton
Dimitri Van den Bergh v Benito van de Pas
Vincent van der Voort v Kyle Anderson
Evening Session (7pm-11pm)
Raymond van Barneveld v Stephen Bunting
James Wade v Wes Newton
Michael van Gerwen v Darren Webster
You can watch the PDC World Darts Championship live on the Sky Sports Darts Channel.
Non-subscribers can also enjoy daily, weekly or monthly access to Sky Sports Darts and Sky Sports other six channels contract-free with NOW TV.
