Barney faces "impossible" route to World Championship glory
Wednesday 21 December 2016 18:20, UK
Raymond van Barneveld is in the top five greats of the game and is "a dream to watch," says Sky Sports' Darts expert Wayne Mardle.
Five-time world champion Van Barneveld produced finishes of 120 and 156 in a wonderful display as he dropped just two legs in defeating Robbie Green.
The Dutch great, who last reached the final in 2009, will face Alan Norris in the last 32 following a classy performance in which he averaged over 98.
Van Barneveld, who knocked out world No 1 Michael van Gerwen on his way to last year's semi-finals, faces a tough passage to the final.
If he were to succeed against 'Chuck' Norris in the next round, he could end up meeting all former champions from then on in with Adrian Lewis, Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen and back-to-back champion Gary Anderson all in line.
But Mardle does not expect the draw to work out in that way, and he believes Van Barneveld can be compared to the likes of Roger Federer and Ronnie O'Sullivan as a sportsman with such natural ability.
"Not very often does the draw go to plan. You shouldn't look too far ahead," Mardle told Sky Sports Darts. "They say they're only worried about the next game and he is right. It's a cliche, but that's the way it is. Barney couldn't care less. If you tell him 'you're going to play whoever in the final', he'd say 'right, okay'.
"The draw looks impossible, he could meet the last four world champions if he beats Alan Norris, but the odds at the draw working out like that are quite remote. Darts has a way of doing that."
With Van Barneveld amongst the most popular sportsmen, Mardle gave his own explanation as to why he thinks the Dutchman is so well loved.
"I just think he's easy on the eye," said former five-time semi-finalist Mardle. "He's so good to watch and anyone that can make a difficult sport look easy, they're always going to have their legion of fans.
"Barney has got that coolness, that silky smooth throw - it's just the way it is. We all want to see something that's difficult and you think 'how do they make it look that simple'? That's what Barney does.
"Barney has been so good for two decades that his achievements get forgotten about because of Phil's achievements. But he is an absolute dream to watch is Barney and when he's happy, he's dangerous."
You can see all the action from day eight from the Alexandra Palace from 7pm on Sky Sports Darts HD. Don't forget, you can send us your comments and predictions throughout this year's tournament by tweeting us @SkySportsDarts ... #LoveTheDarts
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