Barney Wins The Battle

Raymond van Barneveld came from 3-1 down to beat Andy Hamilton in a

thriller at the PartyPoker.net European Championship, while world champion Adrian Lewis and James Wade both progressed safely into the second round.
Van Barneveld produced a superb performance in winning five of the final six legs against Hamilton, hitting six 180s in the match and ending the game with a 101.98 average.
Hamilton had opened the game with a 146 checkout and continued the form which had seen him reach the World Matchplay semi-finals last week, but was edged out as the Dutchman moved into the last 16.
"I'm very pleased," said van Barneveld. "I struggled in the first couple of legs and at 3-1 down I knew I had to fight back, and I think I played really well.

"Andy was fantastic in the World Matchplay and we always have great battles when we play, and this was another. It was a great game to be involved in."

Solid

World champion Lewis, the 2008 European Championship runner-up, made a solid start with a 6-4 defeat of Vincent van der Voort.
The number two seed hit finishes of 128 and 106 in moving 4-1 up, and although he missed 22 darts at a double during the game held on to secure the victory.
"My scoring was good but I missed too many doubles," said Lewis. "I got the job done but I know I've got to improve."
Lewis now takes on St Helens' Dave Chisnall, who overcame some nervous doubles to come from 2-0 down to defeat Jelle Klaasen 6-4.
World number three Wade, last week's World Matchplay runner-up, opened with a 6-1 defeat of Sweden's Magnus Caris, and now plays Blackpool's Ronnie Baxter, who impressed in a 6-4 win over Michael van Gerwen.
Both players averaged over 101 and van Gerwen hit a 135 finish, but Baxter proved too strong to move into the last 16.

Dream

Number seven seed Wes Newton swept aside Andy Smith 6-2, hitting a 167 finish, and will now take on Belgium's Kim Huybrechts, who enjoyed a dream televised debut by defeating Antonio Alcinas 6-2.
Huybrechts hit four 180s and averaged 99.25, as well as finishing six from 11 attempts at a double as he overcame the Spaniard.
"It was a brilliant debut for me," said Huybrechts. "I wanted to play well but it was great for me, and if I can play this kind of game over the weekend I hope I can surprise a few people."
Mark Walsh set up a second-round clash with van Barneveld with a deciding-leg victory against last year's runner-up Wayne Jones, who missed three darts to win the game in the 10th leg before the Hertfordshire ace took the win with a 14-dart leg