Flawless Barney Claims Masters of Darts Title

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD produced a blistering display to claim the Keukenconcurrent Masters of Darts title with a 7-0 whitewash of Peter Manley.

The Dutchman followed up last month's victory in the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship with a clinical performance to see off resurgent Manley.

The Englishman had reached the final with five wins over his Dutch opponents - including van Barneveld - in the group stage before coming from 5-3 down in the semis against Mervyn King.

However, he had no answer to van Barneveld's power scoring and superb finishing, with the Dutchman in unstoppable form, particularly on double 16.

Van Barneveld took the first set 3-0, hitting an 11-darter in the second leg to break Manley's throw and then landing two maximums in the third.

Manley hit his first 180 in the second set's opener to get off the mark, before van Barneveld replied with successive 86 finishes to move 2-1 up.

However, a missed dart for the bullseye allowed Manley in to take leg four, only for the Englishman to return the favour when he squandered four darts for the set in the decider, with van Barneveld taking out 60 with two darts for a 2-0 cushion.

The first two legs of the third set went against the throw, with Manley landing double six in the first before a 116 finish from van Barneveld gave him the second.

He landed double top in the third before a rare miss at double 16 allowed Manley to take out a quality two-dart 85.

Another maximum gave van Barneveld the cushion in the decider, and he regained his touch at double 16 to move three sets up.

Some superb play against the throw saw the home favourite win the fourth set 3-0, and he hit three maximums in the first three legs of the fifth to lead 2-1 before a brilliant 171 left him a 94 finish, which he completed in two darts.

Manley took out 106 to lead in the sixth set's opener, with van Barneveld on 18, but another two-dart finish from the Dutchman, this time on 76, levelled matters.

Manley won the third leg on double eight after van Barneveld was off-target on the bullseye for a 132 checkout, and the pair traded further maximums before a 121 finish saw the World Champion send the set into a decider.

Successive 140s followed by a 130 put van Barneveld in command, and he took out a classy 91 on double 16 to enter the break 6-0 up.

Needing just one more set to claim the 50,000 euro title, he wasted little time after the restart, with two more maximums in three legs settling matters.

Van Barneveld averaged almost 108 in claiming the title and finished with 14 maximums and a 60 percent checkout ratio.

"Without a doubt, that is the best I've played in a final," said van Barneveld.

"I was shocked a little bit because Peter beat me last Saturday and then we drew in the Premier League on Thursday. I was determined to beat him, but this is unreal to hit 14 maximums and have a 107.9 average!

"I don't know where darts is going to, with the Michael van Gerwens coming through, 170 finishes and nine-darters. We've seen it all this week and it's good for the sport.

"I've said a few times that after the World Championship win I've not had too much time for practising but this week I've had time to practice during the days and it has come through okay at the end of the week.

"I'm so happy with that average, but I have to forget it as well.

"Next Thursday I have to play Terry Jenkins in the Premier League and I'm starting all over again. The target is to be in the top four to reach the semi-finals and then hopefully the final.

"It's a great year already!"

Pictures courtesy Ans Westerdaal/Darts4You

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