Raymond Van Barneveld continued his golden streak to add yet another title to his glittering array of darting crowns – demolishing Peter Manley in the final of the Masters of Darts in Holland. After six brilliant victories to reach the final, Manley had no answer to Barneveld’s heavy scoring and slick finishing. The Unicorn star though, can be proud of what he has achieved in this tournament and it will surely give him a massive confidence boost for the challenges ahead in 2007.
But Manley will be hugely disappointed to suffer another 7-0 whitewash in a big final although nobody could have lived with Barneveld on Sunday night….he was in imperious form and looked like a man on a mission. The World Champion averaged an amazing 108 to Manley’s 95 and looked every inch the class act that he is!
Barney proved yet again that he is the best in the world at the moment, as Manley struggled to find the form that had taken him all the way to the final in Hengelo. ‘One Dart’ had his chances in the early stages but when he missed four darts to take the second set, the writing was on the wall and after that there was no going back.
The Dutch superstar banged in 14 180s to Manley’s four and the Team Unicorn Maestro won only seven legs in the final. Barneveld also finished with a 60 per cent check-out rate.
Barneveld set a blistering pace, winning the first set by 3 legs to nil and clinching it with the first of many 11-darters. That second set proved to be crucial with those four missed darts by Manley. Barneveld was in no mood to let up.
A 13-darter made it 3 sets to nil and another 11-darter extended the lead for Barney who was getting better as the final went on. A 94 check-out rounded off another 11 dart leg and another set and it was only a matter of time.
In the 6th set, Manley kicked off with a 108 finish but that just served to stir Barney into action, with three legs in 11, 12 and 12 darts to take him within one set of victory.
In the final set, the World Champion hit his 12th, 13th and 14th 180 and fittingly won the match with yet another 11-dart leg - clinching another big pay day – this time pocketing 50,000 euros for his troubles.
So, we move back to the Premier League and Newcastle on Thursday. Manley faces Phil Taylor and will surely fancy his chances of another upset, while Barneveld takes on Terry Jenkins.
There is no doubt the Masters of Darts has been a big success……Barney a deserved winner but Manley deserves the plaudits for re-launching his career in style.
Masters of Darts Final:
Raymond Van Barneveld 7-0 Peter Manley
(3-0, 3-2, 3-2, 3-0, 3-1, 3-2, 3-0)
BY STUART PYKE
