Raymond van Barneveld's career ended in the most deflating way possible in the first round of his last PDC World Darts Championship as Darin Young silenced the stunned Barney Army with a 3-1 victory.
The five-time world champion and his millions of fans around the world were desperate for him to enjoy one last lengthy run on the biggest stage of all but 'Big Daddy' had no interest in that particular fairytale and instead revelled in the villain role of a darting horror story.
Van Barneveld, who won four Lakeside crowns from 1998, 1999, 2003, 2005 before defeating Phil Taylor in an all-time classic to claim his sole PDC world title in 2007, previously admitted his final season had been "disastrous" and unsurprisingly he cut a dejected figure after a nightmare farewell.
Barney did of course receive a customary hero's reception during what will now go down in history as his final walk-on in a professional tournament, but that will be no consolation now.
The drama was on the cards from the off when Young, who qualified for his 10th World Championship and first since 2016 by virtue of being the highest ranked American on the CDC rankings, won the opening set 3-1.
You could almost hear a pin drop inside the Ally Pally but Barney finally got the crowd going by whitewashing Young in the second set, in which he averaged over 100 and sealed the deal with a fine 13-darter.
A closely fought third set of mixed quality went to a deciding leg that both had chances to win but after Barney spurned his dart at tops, Young pounced on two 10s to pull the plug on the crowd yet again.
Young broke the Barney throw with one of the most quietly celebrated 160 checkout in history before the 46-year-old doubled his advantage to move onto the brink of victory.
Van Barneveld bravely fought back with a pair of impressive 14-darters but despite reaching a finish first in the decider when a fifth 180 left him 61, he couldn't get the job done in two visits and Young ended his career with a 74 checkout.
Barney actually averaged a much higher 96.13 compared to his opponent's 87.92 and hit three more maximums but he spurned 18 of his 26 darts at doubles which ultimately proved costly in his forgettable finale.
"I played really bad," am emotional Van Barneveld told Sky Sports. "I was surprised, nothing more. Darin played really good, all credit to him.
"I lost first round, in my disaster year. I will never forgive myself, never ever.
"I had practised well and done everything I could to prepare but I didn't play anything like that on stage. I will never forget or forgive myself for this performance - it has been a nightmare end to a nightmare year."
Later, in his final press conference, he said: "The demons won again - I never felt comfortable in the whole match.
When later prompted to elaborate on what those demons, he said: "That I'm a loser. Every day is a disappointment in my life."
Barney was also asked if he was proud of his achievements to which he sarcastically laughed and said: "Proud of what? That's all in the past, I can't live with myself for this. Never ever."
"It (My legacy) doesn't matter. I don't belong at this high level anymore and that's what I've got to tell myself for the rest of my life."
BARNEY'S ROLE OF HONOUR
PDC Televised Titles
Further Major Titles
Raymond van Barneveld's career-ending defeat was not the only jaw-dropping moment on Saturday night, as Rob Cross slumped to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Kim Huybrechts.
The 2018 champion headed to the Alexandra Palace with high hopes of getting his hands on the trophy for the second time having won the World Matchplay and European Championship but he managed just two legs in one of his worst performances of the season.
"I'm over the moon to have won that match and I showed a lot of bottle - that's what you need to win titles like this.
"I love playing here. I love the feeling I get when I am playing on the Ally Pally stage and that is the best game I've ever been part of."
Darius Labanauskas wasted little time in storming into the second round as he crushed Matthew Edgar for the lost of just two legs.
The Lithuanian won the first seven of the match as he threatened a rare total whitewash while the star of 'Edgar TV' had only managed two darts at a double by that point, both of which coming in the third leg of the second set.
Prime Time got his act together with back-to-back legs, including a fine 75 checkout after Labanauskas has missed four darts at doubles, but it was far too little to late and didn't even amount to winning a set. Although it did entertain the crowd.
Labanauskas, who reached round three on debut last year, averaged 94.73 compared to Edgar's 84.78, hit three more 180s (three) and converted nine of his 17 darts at doubles.
Yuki Yamada won the battle of the debutants as the Japanese thrower defeated Ipswich youngster Ryan Meikle 3-1 to upset the odds.
The Barber has enjoyed an encouraging season on both the Development and Pro Tours so it came as little surprise to see him finishing 88 on the bullseye and a further checkout of 102 in winning the opening set 3-2.
The little known Yamada, who qualified for the Ally Pally virtue of his placing on the PDC's Asian Tour, responded with a match high finish from 124 en route to taking the scrappy second set on a deciding leg - and he'd repeat the trick in a third.
The match was summed up in the final two legs - with Yamada taking out 96 for a 12-darter and followed it up with a finish from 83 to complete a 24-darter that included scoring visits of 15, 25 and 44!
He finished up with an average of 85.77 compared to Meikle's 81 while they both hit two 180s apiece and missed a combined 48 darts at doubles.
Saturday December 14
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
First/Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts
Evening Session (1900)
First/Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts
Sunday December 15
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
First/Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts
Evening Session (1900)
First/Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts
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