World Darts Championship: Day 7 Evening -legend Raymond van Barneveld crashes out in Round 1 - 180UK.com
Darts News PDC World Championships Sarah Leaver

World Darts Championship: Day 7 Evening -legend Raymond van Barneveld crashes out in Round 1

18 December 2025
Tom Sansom

By Sarah Leaver

We are a week into the action, as the contenders continue to emerge across another exciting round at Alexandra Palace. Here’s a recap of the past round from the pinnacle stage of darts, with ranked stars James Wade and Martin Schindler taking to the oche and an unceremonious exit for a legend of the sport.

Match 1: Matt Campbell v Adam Sevada

Two North Americans faced off in the first match of the day in a resumed World Championships, as there were no afternoon sessions. Adam Seveda won the first leg but couldn’t hold the throw as Matt Campbell won an equaliser.

Both players missed double four for a chance to take the lead, but the American was the first to take it, allowing him to throw for the opening set. And that he did, checking out 32 to make the ideal start to his Ally Pally debut.

Campbell hit a 180 in the second set but, with the help of the throw, Sevada pushed through the pressure to take the first leg. The set ended up going to a deciding leg, which was won by the Canadian to level the match.

Cambell kicked off his set with a maximum visit, which spurred him on to win the leg, but once again the set went to a decider which was finally won by the American.

Sevada put the match to bed after missing four match darts, setting up a second-round tie with fellow newcomer Charlie Manby.

Result: Campbell 1 Sevada 3

Match 2: Raymond van Barneveld v Stefan Bellmont

Darting legend Raymond van Berneveld threw first against Stefan Bellmont, and with that he effortlessly took out double 20 for the first leg, with no competition from his opponent.

But the pressure soon ramped up, with Bellmont taking two legs and then checking out 16 to win the set. The Swiss carried on, winning all three legs in the second set after van Barneveld fumbled on his checkouts.

Play resumed as normal, with Belmont taking another two consecutive legs – this time he was pegged back but it meant nothing as he eventually took out nine to win the match.

Result: van Barneveld 0 Bellmont 3

Match 3: James Wade (7) v Ryusei Azemoto

World number seven James Wade took on Ryusei Azemoto in the third match of the night and the Japanese didn’t take his chances in the first leg, gifting Wade two legs before taking one back himself.

The set went in favour of the Englishman though, as did the second as he breezed past Azemoto to double his lead. The third set continued in similar fashion, Wade once again dominated Azemoto and won another three legs on the bounce to cruise through the set, and the game, hitting the match dart on his first attempt.

Result: Wade 3 Azemoto 0

Match 4: Martin Schindler (13) v Stephen Burton

Stephen Burton took a shock lead against 13th seed Martin Schindler, but the German soon equalised and then took the lead hitting double 10. The German went on to win the set, but Burton came back firing in the second leg, winning three consecutive legs after Schindler scattered his darts in an attempt to halve the leg deficit.

Schindler took first blood in the third set, before doubling his lead after a poor display from Burton. This gave the German the confidence to go on and win the third set, putting himself a set away from victory.

Schindler took the match in his stride in the fourth and ultimately final set, in which he once again smashed the Englishman with an average of 99.1 to book himself a place in the second round.

Result: Schindler 3 Burton 1

AS IT HAPPENS: 2025/26 PDC WORLD DARTS CHAMPIONSHIPS

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