Lloyd blew a three set lead and missed four darts to beat Barney, as the Dutchman staged an amazing comeback to win a final leg sudden death shoot-out.
It lived up to all the hype. It was a classic. It was one of the most amazing games in the 14 years of World Championship darts at Purfleet but that will be of little consolation to Unicorn’s World No.1 who gave it his all.
Lloyd looked unbeatable at the start – racing into a three set lead and he seemed set to blow Barneveld away….but we should have known better!
Barneveld raced through the 4th set and started to warm to his task. The 5th set went all the way…..Lloyd missed one dart at the bull to win the match 4 sets to 1 and Barney didn’t need a second chance…..It was high quality stuff from both players. Lloyd hit a 148 finish and the Dutch star replied with a 116. Lloyd missed another dart at the bull to win it and Barney’s double top took it into a decider.
It really was sensational stuff in that final set…….Lloyd 1-0, Barneveld 1-1, Lloyd 2-1, Barney 2-2, Lloyd 3-2, Barney 3-3, Lloyd 4-3 and he then missed a dart at double 20 on a 145 finish to win the match….Barney made it 4-4…..Lloyd 5-4 with a 115 check-out and he missed another dart at double top before the Dutch ace made it five apiece and it went to that sudden-death leg.
After nearly two hours of brilliant darts, it all came down to one leg. Barney won the shot at the bull to throw first and two minutes later, he nailed double 18 to complete his incredible comeback and break Lloyd’s heart.
But the Unicorn ace can hold his head high, because he didn’t do much wrong in a match which produced 15 180s. Barneveld now plays Dutch teenager Rico Vonck in the last 16. It really was a classic case of so near but yet so far for Lloyd.
Barneveld said: “It was one of the best matches I have ever played. Colin played so well and for a time I wondered if there was a way back but I just kept plugging away. It is a pity there has to be a loser in a match like that but I have worked very hard this year.”
There was double disappointment for Team Unicorn, as John Part crashed out of the tournament to Chris Mason.
Unicorn’s two-time World Champion just couldn’t hit the heights, as he slipped to defeat against Chris Mason.
For ‘Mace the Ace’ it was revenge for last year’s 2nd Round defeat against the Canadian but Part will know he didn’t turn up on the night. He just looked out of sorts and wasn’t able to produce a bust of power scoring to put Mason under pressure.
Mason took the opening set with a 112 finish but Part levelled the match and went two legs up in the 3rd set. That’s as good as it got. Mason reeled off seven legs on the spin, including finishes of 116 and 115. There was a glimmer of hope for Part, as a 112 check-out helped him to take the 5th set.
Mason though, wasn’t to be denied. He produced a 129 kill and finished off Part in style. He could now face Unicorn’s 14 times World Champion Phil Taylor in the last 16.
“I know I could have played so much better,” said Part. “I guess it was just one of those nights.”
2nd Round results:
John Part 2-4 Chris Mason
BY STUART PYKE
Photo : Lawrence Lustig/PDC
