PHIL TAYLOR defeated Raymond van Barneveld 8-3 to win the RTL7 International Masters final on Monday night, creating a further slice of history in the process of claiming another televised victory.
Taylor left his Dutch rival floundering with a sensational performance to win the €20,00 first prize, with his three-dart average of 113.60 being the highest ever in a televised final.
He hit only one winning leg over 14 darts in the decider, having come from 3-2 down to defeat Gary Anderson 8-4 in the semi-finals earlier in the night at the Hotel Zuiderduin in Egmond aan Zee.
The win saw Taylor complete a dominant weekend in the inaugural tournament, having overcome Terry Jenkins and Adrian Lewis to win his group, defeated James Wade 8-3 in the quarter-finals and Anderson in the semis.
He saved his best display for the final, though, as he relentlessly outscored van Barneveld, who stepped in to win the opening leg after a miss from Taylor by finishing 80 in two darts.
Taylor hit a pair of 11-darters and broke in 14 darts to win the next hree legs and take command, before van Barneveld shaded the fifth to pull back to 3-2.
The Dutchman gave himself the chance to level in the sixth, but missed two darts at double 19 for a 98 finish, which was punished as Taylor took out 68 in two darts.
He then hit his fourth and fifth 180s of the final in back-to-back 13-dart legs in moving 6-2 up, before missing the bull for a 167 finish as van Barneveld landed double 17 to hit back.
Taylor, though, replied with another 11-darter, and hit a seventh 180 and double 18 to wrap up the victory in 13 darts.
"I'm delighted to have won," said Taylor. "To play Raymond in a final in Holland's a huge honour and I enjoyed it because he brings the best out of me.
"Since I returned to using the darts I did so well with last year I've been really pleased with my form and it showed again here.
"The key leg was the sixth when Raymond missed two darts to take out 98, and after that I dug in and got the job done. I've really enjoyed the tournament and it's a great way to finish."
Van Barneveld had won through to the final with a brilliant 8-2 win over Vincent van der Voort in their all-Dutch semi-final, averaging almost 102 in the process.
He won the opening four legs and also hit seven 180s in the victory, and took home €12,000 as runner-up to Taylor - his seventh successive defeat to the Stoke legend in a final since claiming the 2007 World Championship title.
Van der Voort and Anderson earned €8,000 for reaching the semi-finals of the tournament, shown live on Dutch TV channel RTL7 and played in front of a sold-out crowd at the Hotel Zuiderduin.
Highlights of the RTL7 International Masters will be available worldwide for PDCtv subscribers following the conclusion of the tournament.
RTL7 International Masters
Monday March 21
Semi-Finals
Vincent van der Voort 2-8 Raymond van Barneveld
Phil Taylor 8-4 Gary Anderson
Final
Raymond van Barneveld 3-8 Phil Taylor
SEMI-FINALS
VINCENT VAN DER VOORT 2-8 RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD
0-0 - Vincent van der Voort wins the bullseye and will throw first.
0-1 - van Barneveld makes a brilliant start, opening the game with a 180 and finishing 89 on the bull for a 12-dart finish.
0-2 - van der Voort misses five darts at double top to level, with van Barneveld returning after one miss at the same bed to hit tops and double his lead.
0-3 - van Barneveld breaks for a second time in the game, finishing 86 in two darts for a 14-dart leg.
0-4 - both players hit 180s, with van Barneveld missing the bullseye for a 121 finish but being handed another reprieve when van der Voort misses double eight for a 136 finish, and the five-time World Champion hits the same bed to win a fourth straight leg.
1-4 - van Barneveld misses two darts at double 12 to break again, and van der Voort lands double 16 to get off the mark.
1-5 - van Barneveld lands tops for a 13-dart finish.
2-5 - van Barneveld hits a 180 to leave 81 after nine darts, but misses two darts to break and van der Voort psots double ten to win his second leg.
2-6 - van Barneveld edges towards victory, hitting another 180 and finishing 61.
2-7 - van Barneveld opens with six perfect darts, and although a potential nine-dart slips away he wins the leg in 12 to move a leg away from the final.
2-8 - van Barneveld hits his seventh 180 of the game to open the leg, and hits double top to seal an impressive victory in 14 darts.
Final Match Averages: Vincent van der Voort 92.98, Raymond van Barneveld 101.92
PHIL TAYLOR 8-4 GARY ANDERSON
0-0 - Gary Anderson wins the bullseye and will throw first.
0-1 - Anderson hits a 180 and double top in drawing first blood against the 15-time World Champion.
1-1 - Taylor levels with double top.
1-2 - Anderson hits a second 180 to leave 48, which he finishes in two darts on double top.
2-2 - Anderson opens with a 180, but Taylor hits scores of 134, 134 and 137 before hitting double 18 for a 14-dart finish.
2-3 - Anderson adds another 180 before landing tops for a 14-dart leg.
3-3 - Anderson kicks off with his fifth 180 of the game, but when on a 121 finish hits the treble 20 but sees his dart at treble 11 drop out of the bed, denying him a dart at a double as Taylor steps in to finish 107.
4-3 - Taylor takes advantage, opening with seven treble 20s to set up a possible nine-dart finish, although he misses the treble 19 and leave 32 after nine darts. Anderson then misses the bullseye for a 130 checkout and Taylor lands double 16 for a 12-darter.
5-3 - Taylor posts double top to move two legs clear.
6-3 - Anderson hits a 174 to leave 32, but misses three darts for the leg and Taylor steps in on double eight to break again.
7-3 - Taylor hits double eight to move a leg away from victory.
7-4 - Anderson lands his sixth 180 of the game and posts double top for a 13-dart finish.
8-4 - Taylor wraps up the win comfortably, landing double nine with his fourth match dart to set up a final with Raymond van Barneveld.
Final Match Averages: Phil Taylor 95.56, Gary Anderson 96.12
FINAL
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 3-8 PHIL TAYLOR
0-0 - Raymond van Barneveld wins the bullseye and will throw first.
1-0 - Taylor opens with a 180 but misses a dart at tops, and van Barneveld finishes 80 in two darts.
1-1 - Taylor begins with another maximum, and hits tops for an 11-darter.
1-2 - Taylor breaks throw in 14 darts on double 16.
1-3 - Taylor kicks off the fourth leg with scores of 137 and 180, before checking out 89 in two darts for an 11-dart finish.
2-3 - van Barneveld wins his first leg in four with a 14-darter, finishing on double 16.
2-4 - van Barneveld misses two darts at double 19 for a 98 finish to break, and Taylor checks out 68 in two darts.
2-5 - Taylor opens with another 180 and breaks in 13 darts on double top.
2-6 - Taylor moves two legs away from victory with another 13-dart finish, opened with his fifth maximum of the game and completed on double 14.
3-6 - Taylor misses the bullseye for a 167 finish, and van Barneveld lands double 17 for a 14-dart leg..
3-7 - Taylor hits another 180 and finishes 84 in two darts for an 11-dart leg.
3-8 - Taylor seals victory with a double 18 finish to take the title
Final Match Averages: Raymond van Barneveld 94.38, Phil Taylor 113.60