The World Darts Championship got underway on Sunday evening with reigning world champion Luke Humphries kicking off his title defence, and the first of the Irish competitors getting their tournament underway in the opening four games.
Meath native Keane Barry stormed to a three sets to one victory over his Belgian adversary Kim Huybrechts on Sunday evening in the Alexandra Palace, booking himself a spot in the second round of the famed tournament.
The 22-year-old Irish man enjoyed a rocky start to his fifth World Championships, losing the opening set 3-2 after struggling with his scoring in the early stages.
However, as the sets rumbled on so too did the Irishman who only grew into the game. Keane Barry's outstanding three-dart finishes and impressive 50% success rate on the doubles ensured that even Huybrecht's ten 180s weren't enough to claim the second, third or fourth sets.
Ultimately, the Belgian was beaten for the fifth time by a young Irishman who seemed destined not to miss. In fact Barry himself racked up an impressive seven maximum finishes throughout the four legs of darts that he won 3-1.
HUGE WIN FOR BARRY! 🇮🇪
Stunning stuff from Keane Barry as he gets the better of Kim Huybrechts in a high-quality contest!
📺 https://t.co/pIQvhqYxEj#WCDarts | R1 pic.twitter.com/o2zrvJnAIO— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 15, 2024
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Kim Huybrechts left rueing clash with Keane Barry
While on any other day, the Hurricane's average of nearly 97 could've been enough to get him through the first round, against Keane Barry it proved wholly insufficient - a hard truth that even Huybrechts was struggling to get to grips with when he spoke after his first round elimination from the tournament.
Speaking to VTM after his loss at the Ally Pally, a disappointed Kim 'Hurricane' Huybrechts struggled to put into words just how difficult it was coming up against Barry.
He threw everything out, he took all the chances. Never before have I trained so hard and worked so hard in preparation for a tournament and then you bump into someone who plays the match of his life. Then you think why... why?
Well aware of the fact that his ten maximums and strong performance would've seen him progress through many other first-round matches, Huybrechts was clearly disappointed he had met the on-form Irishman as opposed to somebody else, with the Belgian questioning why he bothered with all the commitment only to be eliminated in the first round.
Other darters get away with that and win a major. But against me they throw everything out. That's really the first thought that comes to mind right now. They get to face players who don't hit everything, with me they don't miss a dart. That may be a Calimero feeling, but it's how I feel right now.
That doesn’t do you any good. This is really a disappointment. A blow to the head. An uppercut. In three days it might be over, but now... Why didn’t I see my family for three weeks and only concentrated on darts? Who did I do that for, for what?
Although Keane Barry's opening round was enough to get by an evidently hard-working Kim 'Hurricane' Huybrechts, the Meath man will be up against it when he takes to the stage for his second-round clash on Monday evening.
Barry is set to take on world number ten Welsh star Gerwyn Price in his second-round clash. Price who was formally a professional rugby league player will be hoping to go deep into the tournament, unless Keane Barry can do something about it that is.
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