The overseas invasion

Barneveld: Sharp shooting Dutchman

By Clive Downton

Any one of a foreign legion of sharp shooters is more than capable of taking the Embassy title out of the country in 2001.

Once regarded as the property of the home nations, the famous trophy spent three years abroad during the 90s - two of them, 1998 and 1999, made Raymond van Barneveld one of the best paid sportsmen in Holland... as big a hero as football star Marco van Basten.

But it was Canadian John Part who hit a rich vein of form at the right time and carted the silverware across the Atlantic in 1994. It was the first year of the Embassy without the "stars" who had broken away to form the Professional Darts Corporation.

Part was on fire throughout and sunk one of the best known names on the oche - Bobby George who stayed loyal to the British Darts Organisation.

Injured George - yes it even happens in darts - was taken to the cleaners 6-0 as he battled on in agony with a bad back that underwent major surgery weeks later.

Foreign competition gets tougher and tougher each year and six players from across the shores will be after the 2001 crown.

Experience

It would be a brave man to bet against Barneveld chalking up his third victory at Frimley Green's Lakeside Country Club but word is that Finland's Marko Pusa can be just as exciting.

Part: Victorious in 1994

He was the name most seeds were hoping to avoid and England's experienced Colin Monk is the man who has the task of putting Pusa in his place in round one.

"I don't know why but I am really up for this one," said Monk, who will be making his eighth championship appearance in a row. "I am not really one for practising but I have been on the board for at least two hours a day since drawing Pusa."

Dutch tram driver Co Stompe will hope it is three times lucky on the Lakeside stage and will have the psychological advantage over England's Andy Smith after beating him 3-0 in last year's first round.

Tough

England captain Martin Adams, a loser in the opening round last year, plays best under pressure and will find plenty of that against Belgium's Erik Clarys.

However Clarys has gone out at the hands of Englishmen in his three appearances - Paul Willimas in 1997, Kevin Painter the following year and Tony Littleton in 1999.

Australians Peter Hinkley and Tony David make up the foreign opposition.

The Down Under dart players face Nick Gedney and Andy Fordham respectively and will be expecting a tough time.

But Hinkley has been there before - losing in the first round both times to Welshmen Richie Burnett and later and Sean Palfrey.