It could be the greatest game of darts ever seen as Phil Taylor and Raymond Van Barneveld do battle for the title of World Champion and £100,000.
It is the dream final. When Barney joined the PDC 10 months ago, darts fans dared to dream…..now that dream has turned to reality, after both completed semi-final demolition jobs at the Circus Tavern.
Taylor whitewashed Unicorn stablemate Andy Hamilton 6-0, losing only five legs in the entire match, while Barneveld hit Andy Jenkins for six, losing just three legs in his semi-final.
‘The Power’ said: “It is going to be a classic final. I can’t wait! He is a winner but I want that 14th World Title.”
Taylor added: “Barney works hard and he is a true professional. He is also a good guy, who has done brilliantly since he came over in February. Bring it on!”
It turned into a nightmare night for Hamilton, who had performed so well all week but it just didn’t happen for him. He never found his range and against Taylor, there was no way back.
Taylor won the first six legs of the match. Hamilton then rallied – albeit briefly – with an 88 finish and a brilliant 148 check-out to take the third set into a decider. Taylor though, came up with an 11 darter and was averaging 105 at that stage.
The 4th set also went to a decider after a 124 Hamilton finish on the bull but once Taylor made it 4-0, he produced a ‘Power Surge’. He hit four 180s in the 5th set as he chased that illusive 9-darter and closed the match out easily with double 4.
Hamilton’s five 180s took his total to the week to 46…..only Taylor with 49 last year has a better 180 record in the history of the tournament.
And Taylor reckons history could be made in the final: “There is a great chance of a 9 darter. We are both more than capable, so watch out!”
The tournament sponsors have made Taylor the 4/11 favourite, with Barneveld at 2/1
Taylor’s end average against Hamilton was 105.9…..Barney averaged 99 against Jenkins.
Semi-final results:
Raymond Van Barneveld 6-0 Andy Jenkins
So, it has been built up for months. It is the ultimate darting showdown. It’s Taylor against Barney!
BY STUART PYKE
Photo : Lawrence Lustig/PDC
TAYLOR 5-3 BARNEVELD
SET NINE: What a final! It really is living up to all the hype and is turning into one of the best ever. Barneveld storms back to win the set 3-0. Taylor just misses 142 and 146 finishes. Barney produces a 101 in the second leg and double four keep him in the hunt. These are two darting geniuses at the very top of their game and excitement levels are reaching fever pitch! Taylor now with a 100.57 average and Barney 100.26….on we go!
TAYLOR 5-4 BARNEVELD
SET TEN: This is just getting better and better…..dynamite darts! Barney draws level in a cracker against the throw. In the first leg, Barneveld hit six perfect darts and breaks the Taylor throw….back comes ‘The Power’ with a fantastic 121 on the bull, then Barney takes out 58 to break again and finally hits double four. The celebration was animated and it was a brilliant set…..all of a sudden it’s too close to call and those averages are still over the 100 mark.
TAYLOR 5-5 BARNEVELD
SET ELEVEN: Quite simply one of the most amazing sets witnessed in a Circus Tavern Final. Taylor went two legs up and looked odds-on but Barneveld produced some staggering darts to reel off three consecutive legs. He hit double 12 in the decider and Taylor simply couldn’t believe it as Barney took the lead for the first time in this epic final. The averages are still terrific….Taylor 100.74 and Barney 101.40
TAYLOR 5-6 BARNEVELD
SET TWELVE: UNBELIEVABLE! The tension is unbearable….Barney win the first leg against the throw but back comes Taylor with double seven under huge pressure. The Dutch star nails a breathtaking 121 on the bull to go within one leg of the title. Taylor responds brilliantly and hits double 16 with Barney sitting on 24 for the championship and ‘The Power’ finds a surge to take us all the way to a deciding set. That double 16 was oh so sweet!
TAYLOR 6-6 BARNEVELD
SET THIRTEEN: BARNEY’S TITLE! It was amazing drama. Barney took the first leg, back came Taylor, before double four from Barney took him to the brink. It was just incredible and it was agony, agony, agony for the Dutchman as he missed double top on a 120 finish to win the title…..Taylor levelled and we were into the tie-break. Barney moved 3-2 in front and looked to closing in the World crown when he left 40… amazingly he missed three darts for the championship and Taylor levelled again…on we went and Barney made it 4-3 and was sitting on 36 when Taylor nailed double four with his last dart. 4-all became 5-4 to Barneveld and Taylor took us to a sudden death shoot-out by coolly hitting double 16. This was the stuff of darting folklore. The drama was out of this world as they threw for the bull. Taylor hit the 25 and Barneveld found the bull to earn the right to throw first.
Barney hit 100, then Taylor produced a magnificent 180 only to see the Dutch star reply in kind. Taylor showed true grit to stay in touch but Barneveld’s heavy scoring won the day. He just missed double top on a 116 finish…that was five chances gone begging. Taylor couldn’t hit a 140+ finish and Barneveld finally hit the most important double 20 of his life.
Taylor was not surprisingly distraught but he will be back of that you can be absolutely sure but full credit to Barneveld for that stunning fightback against all the odds.
Barney came over to the PDC to test himself against the greatest darts player ever…well, he has beaten him in the greatest game ever!
BY STUART PYKE
Photo : Lawrence Lustig/PDC
