- Dutchman beats Lourence Ilagan 3-0 after absence last year
- James Wade punishes Maik Kuivenhoven misses in 3-1 win
Raymond van Barneveld made a winning return to Alexandra Palace, beating Lourence Ilagan 3-0 to set up an intriguing second-round meeting with Rob Cross.
Van Barneveld, the 2007 PDC world champion, retired from darts after losing to Darin Young in the first round here in 2020, but quickly decided to return to the oche. The Dutchman, who missed the 2021 event, won the first set 3-1 and broke Ilagan early in the second before taking out 121 to go 2-0 up.
