PDC World Darts Championship
Venue: Alexandra Palace, London Dates: 16 December-3 January
Coverage: Live on Sky Sports, reports and results on BBC Sport website

Van Barneveld is aiming to win his sixth World Darts title

Five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld came from a set down to beat Steve Hine and make round two of the PDC World Darts Championship.

Hine edged the first set but was powerless thereafter as his Dutch opponent swept him aside 3-1.

Van Barneveld now faces a second-round tie with Kevin McDine, who claimed a 3-1 win of his own over Barrie Bates.

Englishman McDine crushed Welshman Bates in a disappointing encounter in which neither player was at their best.

McDine took the first two sets as his opponent struggled to hit his doubles, but Bates struck back to reduce arrears before the world number 23 held his nerve to advance to the next round.

In the night's first match, Colin Osborne enjoyed a relatively comfortable 3-1 win over World Championship debutant Chris Thompson.

'The Wizard' was cruising after taking the first two sets with ease, but Yorkshireman Thompson hit back to take the third before Osborne's class shone through to seal the match in the fourth set.

Later, Jamie Caven knocked out South African Devon Petersen, who had come through a one-set preliminary round encounter 4-3 against Norman Madhoo of Guyana.

Petersen took the first leg of the match against the throw and capitalised on his good start to go one set up.

But Caven levelled and quickly went 2-1 up and, after a spate of missed finishes from both players, the Englishman regained his nerve to take the set and complete a 3-1 win.

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