Raymond van Barneveld whitewashed in disastrous World Darts Championship exit

Luke Littler's former idol Raymond van Barneveld has been whitewashed by Stefan Bellmont in the first round of the World Darts Championship. Van Barneveld is one of the most decorated players to ever step onto the oche, having won five World Championships, four with the BDO and one with the PDC.

However, the Dutchman, who was the World No. 1's idol when he took up darts as a child, could not find the same form which made him the best player in the world between January 2008 and June 2008. Van Barneveld, 58, boasts victories overPhil 'the Power' Taylorand Michael van Gerwen, but he was put to the sword by Bellmont.

Van Barneveld looked back to his best when he began with an emphatic 14-dart leg. However, the Swiss star, who had not won a single set at Alexandra Palace before his meeting against Van Barneveld, suddenly caught fire.

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He went on to win six consecutive legs, leaving Van Barneveld looking shell-shocked. The oche legend put in a respectable average of 92.50, which was more than his opponent's 91.36.

When it came to their respective work on the doubles, there was simply no comparison. Van Barneveld only converted two of his eight attempts at a double, while Bellmont finished with nine out of 23 attempts.

Every miss looked even more painful for Van Barneveld, who did not hide his disappointment when Bellmont hit double four to win. It's possible Littler may have been left gutted by his former idol losing so comprehensively.

Littler famously faced Van Barneveld in the round of 16 stage of the 2024 World Championship, which saw him reach the final aged 16, before losing to Luke Humphries. Before his battle with the Dutch legend, Littler revealed he used to mimic Van Barneveld's entrance when he was a toddler.

At the time, the now defending world champion said: "I used to imitate him (Van Barneveld) all the time. Stood in my nappy celebrating like Barney."

However, not long after their meeting, a feud appeared to brew between Van Barneveld and Littler. The experienced star told Sportnieuws.nl: “So that’s the weird thing about it. I understood then that I am his example. That at the World Championship you don’t chat I can understand.

"But other tournaments. The other day I walked up to him to shake his hand. Then he took out his earplug for a moment and only said the most necessary thing."

He also said he sent Littler a text message after the teenager won the Belgium Open, which was ignored by the youngster. Not long after, Van Barneveld held a clear the air conversation with Littler's then manager Martin Foulds, where he told him the article may have been wrongly translated from Dutch to English.

When asked about 'Barney's comments in March 2024, Littler said: "He messaged my manager Martin and said: ‘Don’t listen to them.’ He messaged us and said, I didn’t say anything."

Littler will be back in action in his second round clash this Sunday. He faces David Davis, who also works as an NHS area manager when he is not on the oche.