DUTCH star Raymond van Barneveld condemned reigning champion James Wade to defeat on the opening night of the 2010 Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts.
Van Barneveld avenged his semi-final loss to the left-hander last season with an assured display at The O2 in London, returning to action for the first time since the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
Wade edged the early stages to lead 3-2, but a mid-game surge from van Barneveld saw him win four successive legs in taking a vital 6-3 cushion.
Perhaps inspired by a 180 in opening the sixth leg, he landed double ten to break throw and returned from the break to land double top and lead 4-3.
Wade then hit 180s in the next two legs, but failed to close out the eighth as double 16 allowed van Barneveld to step in, and an 11-darter from the Dutchman, including a maximum of his own, gave him a three-leg advantage.
Van Barneveld then opened the tenth leg superbly, with scores of 140, 180 and 145 leaving him 36 after nine darts - only for five missed doubles to allow Wade to land a maximum and double top to steal the leg.
Wade then missed his chance to pull back another leg when, following another 180, he was off-target on double top for a 120 finish, with double 16 ensured a minimum of a draw for van Barneveld.
Tops gave Wade hope of snatching a point, but he missed a dart at the same bed in the 13th leg, and van Barneveld posted double four to ensure the win.
"I'm very happy with the win and pleased with the performance but I know I'll improve as this tournament goes on," said van Barneveld. "I'm working hard on my fitness at the moment and am back practising well too, and that showed a bit.
"The O2 Arena is an incredible place to play darts and the level I want to perform at. It's a superb venue and I can't wait to play the next three months in arenas like this."
Wade admitted: "I started well but didn't keep up the pressure on Raymond, and it's disappointing. But there are another 13 games remaining and I've plenty of chances to put it right."
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