PDC World Darts Championship 2025: Keane Barry on Inspiring a Surge in Irish Youth Darts

Keane Barry made a triumphant return to the Alexandra Palace stage yesterday, defeating former Premier League participant Kim Huybrechts 3-1 to secure his place in the second round of the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship. 

The 22-year-old Irishman will now face former world champion Gerwyn Price later today in what promises to be a thrilling encounter.

Experience Exceeds Youth

Despite his young age, Barry already boasts a wealth of experience, with this marking his sixth appearance on the iconic darting stage. 

Reflecting on his growth and familiarity with the venue, Barry told SportsBoom.com: “I couldn't really believe it's my sixth year to be honest, but obviously it plays a big part.”

“I know what to do and I know the past experiences as well, so it’s a big thing, but I know myself I just need to play a lot, play like that, keep up the same kind of performances to win games on the world stage.”

Acknowledging the unique challenges of competing at Alexandra Palace, he added: “It's the hardest stage you play on, but it's also, it's the one you work for all year, so it's just trying to keep your form up and to get the results.”

A Season of Surprises

This season has been defined by unexpected breakthroughs in the darts world. 

Alongside the meteoric rise of teenage sensation Luke Littler, the sport has welcomed two new major ranking champions in Mike De Decker and Ritchie Edhouse. 

The unpredictability of the current darts scene gives Barry additional confidence that he can go on a deep run in the tournament, despite his provisional 50th ranking in the PDC Order of Merit.

“I always believe in myself. I always believe every tournament I'm in I'm going to win, and I want to win,” Barry said with conviction. “If you don't have belief in yourself then there's no point showing up.”

On the state of competition, he commented: “This year has been amazing, with the amount of new winners. It definitely does give you a lot of confidence and it, there's no one really dominating anymore, so it is massive for darts in general.”

The Rising Darts Scene in Ireland

Barry also spoke about the growing darts scene in Ireland, which has been bolstered by players like himself and fellow PDC pro William O’Connor. 

The ‘Littler effect’, a term used to describe the inspirational impact of young stars, has even reached Irish shores, with an influx of promising youth talent emerging this year.

“We have just a good few of us [Irish players] now this year, and there's more and more Irish players coming through and there's a lot of talent in Ireland that not necessarily shown as much, so hopefully there'll be a few more Irish tour card holders,” he explained.

Barry’s optimism for the future of Irish darts was clear as he elaborated.

“There is plenty coming through. It is tough when you're young, but there's a lot of good really young players in Ireland coming through and hopefully they get their break and be able to be on the tour and playing in the world championship, so it'd be really good to see.”

As Barry prepares to take on Gerwyn Price, his self-belief, experience, and the momentum of a rising Irish darts scene will undoubtedly play a crucial role in his performance. 

All eyes will be on the Alexandra Palace stage as the young gun aims to make his mark against one of the sport’s biggest names.