The Cazoo 2023 World Darts Championship Third Round commences after a three-day break over the Christmas period, with World Number 1 Gerwyn Price returning to the Alexandra Palace for a huge, highly anticipated rematch with former five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld.
The Iceman opened his search for a second World Title with a spirited comeback against Luke Woodhouse, after losing the opening set against Woody he responded emphatically including a 150 checkout to win 3-1 in the Second Round.
RVB had a very similar encounter in his first match on the world stage, losing the first set to Ryan Meikle before reeling the next three and securing a 3-1 victory to reach the Last 32.
The World Number 1 came undone twice in the Grand Slam of Darts at the hands of the great Dutchman, with Barney coming top of Group A before beating Price 16-13 in the Quarter Finals to reach the Last 4.
But the pair’s most important meeting will come tonight at the Alexandra Palace, with a spot in the Last 16 on offer to both against either Ryan Searle or Jose de Sousa.
This will be the first time Van Barneveld’s appearing after Christmas since 2018, after falling before the Second Round in 2019, 2020 and 2022.
The 55-year-old will see tonight’s task as a free for all, with the pressure fully on the World Number 1 to come through tonight in North London.
The Iceman knows what is required to reach the Fourth Round of the World Championship, clinching a last set decider at the same stage twelve months ago in beating Kim Huybrechts 4-3, despite averaging fewer than his opponent.
The Hurricane is also in action on Day 10, as he faces defending champion Peter Wright in the last match of the evening session with the winner to face former World Matchplay champion Dimitri van den Bergh in the L16, after Belgium’s number 1 overcame Krzysztof Ratajski 4-1 in the afternoon session.
Cazoo 2023 World Darts Championship
Day 10 Evening Session Order of Play:
Round 3:
Jim Williams v Gabriel Clemens (25)
Gerwyn Price (1) v Raymond van Barneveld (32)
Peter Wright (2) v Kim Huybrechts (31)
—–ENDS—–
Images: PDC
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