RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD retained the Blue Square UK Open title with a 16-8 win over fellow Dutchman Vincent van der Voort at the Reebok Stadium, Bolton.
The Dutchman claimed his first PDC title 12 months ago in this event, and repeated his triumph to claim the £30,000 first prize.
He had defeated Phil Taylor and Colin Lloyd - his rivals in the world's top three - 11-4 earlier on Sunday to book his place in the final, and then powered past his fellow countryman to victory.
"I'm very proud and happy to have retained this title," said van Barneveld. "This has been one of the best tournaments I've ever played in and it's a special place.
"I had a good preparation and have kept some form from the Premier League but this event is survival of the fittest!
"It was always going to be hard in the final playing a good friend in Vincent, but I'm proud of him that he reached the final."
Van Barneveld won through Saturday's play with defeats of John MaGowan, John Part and Wayne Jones, before taking to the stage on Sunday against Taylor in the last eight for a second successive year.
He roared to his biggest ever win over Taylor - who had landed a nine-darter on Saturday - and then knocked out Lloyd with a clinical display in the semis.
He never looked in trouble in the final after taking a 4-0 lead early on, including finishes of 149 and 106.
Van der Voort took out 84 on the bullseye to get off the mark and then an unconventional 44 finish of double 12 and double ten.
World Champion van Barneveld won the next four to go 8-2 up, and extended that to 13-5 before van der Voort hit back, taking three of the next five to stay in the game.
But he was unable to delay van Barneveld any further, with double top sealing his victory and maintaining an unbeaten record at the Reebok Stadium.
Van der Voort had defeated Terry Jenkins and Colin Osborne in close, 11-10 contests earlier in the day to reach his first major final - only five months after joining the PDC circuit.
"In my wildest dreams I never dreamed of this but it's magnificent," said van der Voort, from Purmerend in Holland.
"I can play better darts but this is good experience and I hope to keep improving and reach more finals."
Liverpool's Alan Green and Coventry's Steve Hine reached the quarter-finals of a major tournament for the first time in the event, losing to Osborne and Lloyd respectively earlier on Sunday.
The tournament also saw Taylor land his third nine-dart leg in the UK Open finals at Bolton, and the fifth of his career in a major championship.
He paid for missed doubles against van Barneveld, and admitted: "It was a bad day at the office.
"I was beaten fair and square by the better man today but I'll go back to the practice board and regroup now for the Las Vegas Desert Classic at the start of July."
Van Barneveld has immediately been installed at 3/1 to win the 2008 Blue Square UK Open with sponsors Blue Square.
Blue Square UK Open Final - Match Stats
|
Vincent van der Voort |
8-16 |
Raymond van Barneveld |
|
29 |
100+ |
43 |
|
10 |
140+ |
13 |
|
6 |
180 |
4 |
|
29.59 |
Ave1 |
31.66 |
|
88.76 |
Ave3 |
94.99 |
|
86 |
High Finish |
149 |
|
2 |
Legs Against Throw |
6 |
Blue Square UK Open - Sunday Results
Quarter-Finals
Vincent van der Voort 11-10 Terry Jenkins
Colin Osborne 11-6 Alan Green
Raymond van Barneveld 11-4 Phil Taylor
Colin Lloyd 11-6 Steve Hine
Losers £4,000
Semi-Finals
Vincent van der Voort 11-10 Colin Osborne
Raymond van Barneveld 11-4 Colin Lloyd
Losers £8,500
Final
Raymond van Barneveld 16-8 Vincent van der Voort
Winner £30,000
Runner-Up £15,000