RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD'S bid to return to major honours in Holland was boosted when he reached the semi-finals of the RTL7 International Masters on Sunday night - and he is joined in the last four by Phil Taylor, Gary Anderson and Vincent van der Voort.
Van Barneveld powered past Roland Scholten 8-3 in Sunday's quarter-finals to set up an all-Dutch semi-final with van der Voort at the Hotel Zuiderduin in Egmond aan Zee.
The five-time World Champion, who had progressed through his group unbeaten 24 hours earlier, opened with finishes of 161 and 170 against Scholten, and broke a two-all deadlock with five successive legs on his way to victory.
"I'm really happy to be into the semi-finals and hopefully I can win the title on Monday," said van Barneveld, who averaged 99.53 in a strong display.
"I've been in good form and it's great to keep that going. My finishing was good and it will be important to keep that up against Vincent."
Van der Voort booked his place in the last four by defeating Group A winner Co Stompe 8-6.
Stompe led 5-4 at one stage, but missed doubles cost him dearly as van der Voort won four of the final five legs to seal victory.
Monday's other semi-final will feature Phil Taylor and Gary Anderson, after they defeated James Wade and Adrian Lewis respectively.
Anderson had won through Group D unbeaten earlier in the evening, overcoming both Wade and Simon Whitlock 8-4 before left-hander Wade edged out the Australian 8-7 in their deciding game to progress to the last eight.
Taylor's strong form continued with an 8-3 defeat of Wade in their quarter-final, as the 15-time World Champion averaged 107.65 in defeating the world number three.
"I'm delighted to be through to the semi-finals and even though I look serious, inside I'm enjoying every minute of this tournament," said Taylor.
"My finishing was superb against James and it had to be because he was coming off the back of a great win against Simon. Gary will be another tough test on Monday and I love playing him."
Anderson ensured his place in the last four with his first win over Lewis since 2009, as he came from 4-0 down to avenge his defeats in January's World Championship final and Thursday's Premier League Darts contest.
Lewis started superbly to break throw twice in the opening four legs in leadin 4-0, but Anderson was aided by finishes of 96, 82 and 88 in hitting back to leve.
Lewis landed the third of his four 180s in taking the ninth leg, but Anderson added three more maximums of his own in winning the next four without reply, sealing victory with a second 11-dart finish of the game.
"I'm looking forward to playing Phil again because we seem to bring the best out of each other," said Anderson, who lost 8-6 to Taylor in the Premier League a fortnight ago.
"It was a tough night for me to play two group games and the quarter-finals, but I'm really pleased to be through to the semis now.
"I hit back well when Adrian went 4-0 up, but once I got back to four-all I knew I could kick on and get the win."
World Champion Lewis said: "Gary played well and I took my foot off the gas after going 4-0 up, which I shouldn't have done.
"Once I let him in he took some good finishes out and he was the better player on the night. With the standard now you can't afford to miss more than one dart at a double and my misses cost me."
Wade will get a chance to avenge his loss to Taylor when they meet in the Premier League Darts in Brighton next Thursday, and he said: "Phil played better than me but I am coming back into form slowly.
"I can take a lot of positives out of this, especially how I played against Simon Whitlock, and I played well in patches, but my whole game isn't too far off."
Coverage is live in the Netherlands through RTL7 and also via www.rtl7.nl.
Highlights of the RTL7 International Masters will be available worldwide for PDCtv subscribers following the conclusion of the tournament.
RTL7 International Masters
Sunday March 20
Group D
Gary Anderson 8-4 James Wade
Gary Anderson 8-4 Simon Whitlock
James Wade 8-7 Simon Whitlock
Quarter-Finals
Co Stompe 6-8 Vincent van der Voort
Phil Taylor 8-3 James Wade
Raymond van Barneveld 8-3 Roland Scholten
Gary Anderson 8-5 Adrian Lewis
Monday March 21 - 10pm start - tickets €30
Semi-Finals
Vincent van der Voort v Raymond van Barneveld
Phil Taylor v Gary Anderson
Followed by Final
GROUP D
GARY ANDERSON 8-4 JAMES WADE
0-0 -James Wade won the bullseye and will throw first
1-0 - Both players endure a nervy start, missing chances to win the opener before Anderson lands double one.
2-0 - Anderson wins the second on double ten to move two legs up.
2-1 - Wade finishes 56 in two darts on double top to get off the mark.
3-1 - Anderson hits double ten at the first time of asking to win a third leg.
3-2 - Wade hits double 12 at the first attempt for a 13-dart finish, despite an earlier 180 from Anderson.
3-3 - Wade hits a 180 and is given a reprieve after a missed double eight, with Anderson just off-target on double ten before the left-hander returned to this time land double eight to break.
4-3 - Wade opens with a 180, but Anderson replies in kind and takes out 137 on double ten for a 12-darter to break back.
5-3 - Anderson lands his third maximum of the game, and posts tops for a 14-darter to regain his two-leg lead.
5-4 - Anderson posts another 180, but misses darts at double top, ten and five before Wade steps in with double ten.
6-4 - Wade misses the bull for an 81 finish, and Anderson follows another maximum with double ten.
7-4 - Wade is off-target on the bullseye for a second successive leg, this time attempting to close out a 122 finish, and Anderson lands double ten once more to move a leg away from victory.
8-4 - Anderson completes victory in 15 darts, hitting double ten for the fifth time in the game.
Final Match Averages: Gary Anderson 94.91, James Wade 88.60
GARY ANDERSON 8-4 SIMON WHITLOCK
0-0 - Simon Whitlock won the bullseye and will throw first
0-1 - Whitlock makes a thrilling start by taking out a 161 finish to win the opening leg.
0-2 - Anderson misses double top and ten and Whitlock capitalises to break, following up a 165 score with double 18.
0-3 - Whitlock lands double 16 for a second successive 13-dart leg.
1-3 - Anderson takes out 84 on double 11 to win a superb leg, which saw him hit two 180s in succession and Whitlock reply with one of his own in between to test referee George Noble's vocals!
2-3 - Anderson lands another maximum and steps in after Whitlock misses a dart at tops for a 104 finish by hitting the same bed to break in 14 darts.
3-3 - Whitlock misses another dart at tops, and Anderson this time takes out 140 to level the contest.
4-3 - Anderson opens with scores of 140 and 180 against the throw before finish 86 on double 16 for a 12-darter to break and lead for the first time.
5-3 - The Scot hits his fifth 180 and lands double top for a 13-dart finish.
6-3 - Anderson breaks again, following up another 180 with double 19 for a 14-dart leg.
7-3 - Anderson wins a seventh successive leg, finishing 94 on double eight.
7-4 - Whitlock opens with five perfect darts courtesy of a 180 and 140, and finishes 76 on tops to stay in the contest.
8-4 - Anderson wraps up the win on double ten, ensuring his place in the quarter-finals later in the evening.
Final Match Averages: Gary Anderson 104.73, Simon Whitlock 99.00
JAMES WADE 8-7 SIMON WHITLOCK
0-0 - James Wade won the bullseye and will throw first
0-1 - Wade scores well but misses double top to lead and Whitlock recovers from missing the bull for a 161 finish by returning to land double eight for an immediate break.
0-2 - Whitlock doubles his lead with a 78 finish.
1-2 - Wade opens with a 180 and also hits two more ton-plus scores before finishing 54 on double ten for a 12-darter.
2-2 - Whitlock misses double top and double ten, and Wade steps in to break on double ten to level the game.
3-2 - Wade finishes 70 on double top to move in front for the first time.
4-2 - Wade lands a 180 and then takes out double top to break throw.
5-2 - Whitlock misses double seven for a 122 finish, and Wade finishes 95 on the bull for a fifth successive leg.
6-2 - Wade produces a showpiece 125 finish of bullseye, 25, bullseye to break again.
6-3 - Whitlock lands a 180 and finishes 60 on double top to hit back.
6-4 - Wade misses double eight for a 136 finish and Whitlock takes out 60 again, this time on double ten.
6-5 - Whitlock breaks again, with both players missing chances to win the leg before the Australian posts double five.
6-6 - Whitlock levels with double top, making the contest a best-of-three shoot-out for a place in the quarter-finals.
6-7 - Whitlock opens with a 180 and sets up double top for a 13-dart finish as he regains the lead.
7-7 - The Aussie misses three darts at tops for the match and Wade takes out 90 on double 15 to force a deciding leg.
8-7 - Wade is first to the finish in the decider, and posts double top for a 14-darter to progress to the quarter-finals, where he plays Phil Taylor.
Final Match Averages: James Wade 97.51, Simon Whitlock 94.96
QUARTER-FINALS
CO STOMPE 6-8 VINCENT VAN DER VOORT
0-0 - Co Stompe won the bullseye and will throw first.
0-1 - Vincent van der Voort breaks in 14 darts to take the opening leg.
1-1 - van der Voort misses four darts to double his lead, and Stompe returns to hit double five.
2-1 - van der Voort opens the third leg with a maximum, but misses a dart at double top for a 116 finish and Stompe takes out 97 on double 12.
2-2 - van der Voort levels in 15 darts on double eight.
2-3 - a scrappy fifth leg goes to van der Voort, who had hit a 174 score to leave 84 but missed three darts to win the leg, while Stompe missed the bull for a 164 finish, miscounted on his next visit to the oche and missed three more darts before his opponent posted double four to break.
3-3 - Stompe breaks back immediately hitting a 180 and double 14.
4-3 - van der Voort misses double 16 for a showpiece 132 finish - having hit two bullseyes to begin the combination - and Stompe punishes him by finishing 108 on tops.
4-4 - van der Voort levels the game with a 13-dart finish, including another 180 and double top.
5-4 - Stompe edges back ahead by hitting double top with his third dart.
5-5 - Stompe opens the tenth with a 180, but van der Voort takes out tops at the third time of asking
5-6 - Van der Voort hits another 180, and steps in to finish 36 for a break of throw after Stompe failed to set up a double.
5-7 - Stompe misses four darts to win the leg, and van der Voort - who had hit three treble ones in a visit earlier in the leg as well as a score of 26 - hits double top to edge towards victory.
6-7 - Stompe keeps the match alive on double top after van der Voort sees one dart at double 16, for a 106 finish, narrowly miss.
6-8 - Stompe misses a dart at double top to force a deciding leg, and van der Voort lands double 19 at the first time of asking to seal a semi-final place.
Final Match Averages: Co Stompe 85.82, Vincent van der Voort 90.13
PHIL TAYLOR 8-3 JAMES WADE
0-0 - Phil Taylor won the bullseye and will throw first.
1-0 - Taylor kicks off with three 140s and finishes 81 on double 16 for a 12-dart opening leg.
2-0 - The world number one opens with a 180 and takes out 104 for a 15-darter.
3-0 - Taylor lands tops for another 15-dart finish to treble his lead.
3-1 - Wade hits a 180 and finishes 81 on the bull for a 12-darter to get off the mark.
3-2 - Wade lands another maximum and checks out double five to break in 15 darts and pull back to within a leg.
4-2 - Taylor breaks back immediately, hitting scores of 140, 180 and 100 before landing double 12 for a 13-dart finish.
5-2 - Taylor moves three legs clear by winning leg seven.
6-2 - Taylor breaks throw again in 14 darts, landing tops to extend his lead further.
7-2 - Wade hits a 180 in vain as Taylor moves a leg away from victory with a 13-dart finish, ended on double 16.
7-3 - Wade claims his third leg of the match, finishing 83 in two darts for a 14-dart leg to keep the game alive.
8-3 - Wade opens with a 180, but misses double top for a 116 finish and Taylor seals the win with a 108 finish.
Final Match Averages: Phil Taylor 107.65, James Wade 98.93
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 8-3 ROLAND SCHOLTEN
0-0 - Raymond van Barneveld won the bullseye and will throw first.
1-0 - Scholten opens with a 180 but van Barneveld finishes 161 to take the opener in 12 darts.
1-1 - van Barneveld hits a 177 to leave 24, but Scholten takes out 56 in two darts on double four to level.
2-1 - van Barneveld betters his checkout of the opening leg by taking out 170 for another 12-darter.
2-2 - Scholten leaves 82 with a 177 score, and finishes the combination on tops to level.
3-2 - van Barneveld wins a third leg, landing double 16 at the first attempt.
4-2 - van Barneveld opens with a 180 and returns after missing double 18 for a 156 finish to hit the same bed for the game's first break of throw.
5-2 - the five-time World Champion lands double six to move three legs clear.
6-2 - van Barneveld opens the leg with a 180 and breaks for a second time with double eight for a 14-dart finish.
7-2 - Scholten misses a dart at double 16 to break back, and van Barneveld returns to hit double 19 in moving a leg away from victory
7-3 - Scholten posts double top for a 13-dart finish to keep the match alive.
8-3 - van Barneveld seals the win with double eight to set up a semi-final with Vincent van der Voort on Monday night.
Final Match Averages: Raymond van Barneveld 99.53, Roland Scholten 88.78
GARY ANDERSON 8-5 ADRIAN LEWIS
0-0 - Gary Anderson won the bullseye and will throw first.
0-1 - Anderson misses three darts to win the opener and Lewis finishes 77 in two darts for an immediate break.
0-2 - Lewis hits a 180 to leave 61 as he doubles his advantage.
0-3 - Lewis breaks again by landing double ten.
0-4 - Anderson hits a 180, but Lewis is first to a finish and after missing the bull for a 167 checkout he returns to post double 15.
1-4 - Anderson finishes 82 in two darts with a bullseye, double 16 combination to get off the mark.
2-4 - Anderson breaks throw in 14 darts by taking out 96 on double 18.
3-4 - the Scot continues his revival by landing double top, despite Lewis kicking off the leg with a 180.
4-4 - Lewis misses double 14 for a 121 finish, and Anderson follows up a 180 by finishing 88 for an 11-dart leg.
4-5 - Anderson's revival is halted in its tracks as Lewis lands a 180 and double nine.
5-5 - Lewis hits another 180 but misses a dart at tops and Anderson finishes 80 to level.
6-5 - Anderson posts double 16 at the third time of asking to break Lewis' throw and lead for the first time.
7-5 - Anderson hits a 180 and after Lewis misses a dart at tops to steal the leg, the Scot hits the same bed to move to the brink of a semi-final place.
8-5 - Anderson lands his sixth maximum of the game and finishes 81 for an 11-darter to wrap up the win, his first over Lewis since 2009.
Final Match Averages: Gary Anderson 100.57 Adrian Lewis 100.22