Raymond van Barneveld has no doubts that it will come good for him with his new darts following his first televised match since switching to Target yesterday.
The five-time world champion whitewashed Chinese qualifier Cheng An Liu 6-0 in the first round of the Shanghai Darts Masters, despite averaging just 83.50 and hitting 6/16 of his doubles.
It was the Dutchman’s lowest televised average in over a year, ironically since his first round victory in the same tournament in 2016, but he insists he will get back to the top of his game with his new equipment.
“With new darts it’s different,” van Barneveld said. “This is the first time on stage I tried them.
“For a couple of legs it was ok. I practiced for the last three, four days very hard and then we flew yesterday from Amsterdam to here, so it’s a bit of tiredness and jet lag.
“It’s all about the practice, practice, practice, practice and belief, believe in the darts you play with and it will come. It will come, don’t worry.”
Van Barneveld, a two-time finalist on the World Series circuit, will continue his bid for a first World Series title when he takes on world number two Gary Anderson in the quarter-finals in Shanghai later today.
In the other quarter-finals, defending champion Michael van Gerwen takes on rival Phil Taylor, former major winners Peter Wright and James Wade face off, and major finalists Dave Chisnall and Gerwyn Price go head-to-head.
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