Teen sensation ‘bullish’ about Ally Pally chances
THE countdown has begun to the biggest match of Keane Barry’s life and the 17-year-old Duleek darts sensation just can’t wait to make his bow in the William Hill PDC World Championship at Alexandra Palace next week.
At 9pm on Monday the recently crowned BDO World Masters champion will step onto the stage at the packed arena and face the 33rd best player on the planet in Vincent van der Voort.
Two days short of his 44th birthday, the Dutchman started his professional career before Keane was even born, became famous as the fastest player in the world and has reached the World Championship quarter-finals on three occasions.
However, his reputation doesn’t seem to faze Keane at all and the Meath youngster seems incredibly relaxed ahead of the ‘Ally Pally’ showdown.
‘I’ve never met Vincent, but he’s been around a long time and his well known and I’m really looking forward to it,’ Keane reflected.
‘It’s going to be a quick game, but the best thing for me to do is try to play my own game, enjoy myself and not put myself under pressure.
‘Vincent’s definitely the favourite and all the pressure is on him.
‘The main thing is not to forget where you came from and to keep the feet on the ground and my mum and dad are very good at making sure of that.’
Alexandra Palace has become an iconic venue for these championships and the PDC’s chief executive recently remarked: ‘It’s become synonymous with Christmas, in the same way that everybody knows it’s Wimbledon in early July and everybody knows it’s the FA Cup Final at the end of May.’
The atmosphere by the colourful and boisterous crowd is perhaps unique in sport and it’s something Keane’s going to have to become accustomed to if he is to have a chance of causing an upset.
‘I played on the same stage in the World Youth Championships, so I have a bit of experience and that’s a massive advantage,’ he pointed out.
‘There’s a good few people going over from Duleek and a good number of the family and I’ll have to take it all in. Normally it’s just my mum, dad and girlfriend, so it’ll be good to have a few extra people there cheering me on instead of them watching on the phone or the TV.’
Having already won the BDO World Masters and finished runner-up in the World Masters, with the JDC World Championship Final to come in 11 days’ time, Keane regards it as bonus territory to reach the PDC Championship, and even if he loses in the first round he’ll earn the biggest pay cheque of his life - just short of €9,000.
But that doesn’t mean he won’t take the competition seriously - quite the reverse in fact.
‘The money is great,’ he admitted, ‘but I would take the win over the money because just to win a game at the World Championship would be brilliant.
‘If I go professional next year, though, there are no ranking points in the PDC and so the first thing on your mind is the money and how much there is in each tournament.’
For now, though, it’s all about that old cliche - taking each game as it comes - and Keane insists he’s giving no thoughts to the prospect of playing the world number 10 Dave Chisnall in round two if he wins, or the possibility of facing the legendary Raymond van Barneveld later in the competition.
‘There’s no point getting ahead of yourself and then not getting that far in the tournament,’ Keane replied with conviction.
‘It’s new surroundings playing in the World Championship, but I know myself how well I can play. If I throw my own darts I’ve a good chance of beating anyone.
‘Hopefully I can go all the way and win the €500,000 [first prize]!’
•The Fosters Duleek & District League would like to wish Greyhound player Keane Barry the very best of luck in his upcoming matches at the world championships.
I know how well I can play. If I throw my own darts I’ve a good chance against anyone. Hopefully I can go all the way!