Thrillers Set Up Manley-Barneveld Final

PETER MANLEY will face Raymond van Barneveld in the final of the Keukenconcurrent Masters of Darts following two brilliant semi-finals - including a nine-darter from Michael van Gerwen.


Keukenconcurrent Masters of Darts
Semi-Finals
Peter Manley 6-5 Mervyn King
Raymond van Barneveld 6-4 Michael van Gerwen

Final
Sunday 8pm (7pm GMT)
Raymond van Barneveld v Peter Manley
Best of 13 Sets

Pictures courtesy Ans Westerdaal - Darts4You

PETER MANLEY 6-5 MERVYN KING
(0-3, 3-1, 2-3, 3-1, 1-3, 1-3, 3-1, 1-3, 3-2, 3-2, 3-1)

PETER MANLEY produced one of the greatest comebacks of his career to edge out Mervyn King 6-5 and reach the final of the Keukenconcurrent Masters of Darts.

The former Las Vegas Desert Classic champion has returned to top form in Hengelo this week, winning all five of his group games against Team Holland.

He looked set to miss out on the final, though, when King took a 5-3 lead and then moved 2-0 up in the ninth set.

Manley stormed back with three successive ton-plus finishes to stay in the match and also edged the tenth set 3-2 after King missed a dart for victory.

The three-time World Championship finalist then won the deciding set 3-1 to book his place in Sunday's final.

King made a brilliant start to take the first set without reply, before Manley hit back to win the second 3-1.

King edged the third in the fifth leg with a 14-darter, and the next two also went with the throw to leave the former World Masters champion 3-2 up at the interval.

He then secured a crucial break by coming from behind to win the sixth set 3-1 and put daylight between the pair.

Manley responded in kind to take set seven, but King's 13-darter saw him again break to win the eighth set and move to within one of the match.

He took a 2-0 lead in the ninth set, and left himself an 80 finish only for Manley to take out 147 and win the third leg.

A 165 from King left him 16 in the next only for Manley to check out 106, and he then took out 124 on the bull for the set - to the delight of the Dutch crowd.

Living up to his "One Dart" nickname, Manley finished on 116 in the first leg of set ten, and was off-target on the bull for another 124 finish which would have seen him land five successive ton-plus finishes.

King stepped in to win that leg and the third to lead 2-1, but a missed dart at double 16 for a 121 finish - and the game - allowed Manley in for an 84 finish to square the set and then win the fifth leg with the throw to send the match into a decider.

King's tenth maximum of the game helped him to take the first leg, landing double 16 after Manley himself missed the bullseye for a 121 finish.

Manley landed double seven for the second leg and then broke King's throw with a two-dart 70 finish after his opponent failed to land double 11 for a 118 checkout.

He then completed a remarkable comeback with double eight to secure his spot in the decider.

"At 5-3 it was very difficult for me," admitted Manley. "I've played well all week but the break for the Premier League [on Thursday and Friday] probably affected me more than Mervyn.

"I didn't start very well and at the break I was grateful to be only 3-2 down.

"At 5-3 and 2-0 down I shrugged my shoulders and said to myself 'Let's go'. It was an unbelievable set - One Dart's back!

"Hopefully tomorrow against Barney it continues."

He added: "Team England have obviously won too against the Dutch, and that's what it has been about.

"It's been a team event and they have all been behind me. It's been great and hopefully for the lads of England I can continue it again in the final."

Match Stats

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 6-4 MICHAEL VAN GERWEN
(3-0, 3-1, 1-3, 3-0, 1-3, 2-3, 1-3, 3-0, 3-2, 3-1)

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD survived a nine-darter from Michael van Gerwen to win a place in the final of the Keukenconcurrent Masters of Darts.

The teenager confirmed his status as the hottest young talent in the sport with a stunning perfect leg against the World Champion.

He also came from 3-1 down to lead 4-3 before van Barneveld showed his class by winning three successive sets to set up a final against Peter Manley.

"When I beat Phil Taylor on Monday I was very pleased because I hoped I wouldn't meet him in the semis or final, and then you get Michael van Gerwen!" said van Barneveld.

"This is such hard work and there will be more tournaments to come. I have to work hard, go back to the gym and lose some weight otherwise I'm gone!"

Van Gerwen hit a perfect nine-dart finish in fifth set, when he trailed van Barneveld 3-1.

Having earlier had six perfect darts in one leg, the teenager scored 174, 180 and then took out 147 with treble 20, treble 17 and double 18 to become the youngest player to achieve the feat in a televised tournament.

"Congratulations to him, it was brilliant," said van Barneveld.

"I've been tipping Michael for over a year now, he turns 18 this April and in the future it is going to be so hard. He is getting more experience all the time and it's so hard to stop him.

"He plays six or seven days a week, but then again he has no family and kids yet! But he is an unbelievable player for his age - he deserves a statue already!

"He's hit a nine darter tonight - and I think it won't be his last!"

Despite losing his last three contests with the youngster, it was van Barneveld who made the best start, storming out to take a two-set lead by winning six of the first seven legs.

Van Gerwen hit back to win the third set 3-1, hitting six perfect darts in the fourth leg before taking the set with an 11-darter.

The pair continued to trade maximums as van Barneveld took the fourth set without reply.

The youngster took the first leg of set five before then landing his nine-darter to double the advantage and raise the roof at Hengelo's ExpoCenter.

Van Barneveld took the third leg but van Gerwen went out in 12 darts to take the set - with a 134 average - and go into the break just one set behind at 3-2.

He took out 112 in the first leg after the restart, before van Barneveld took the next two to lead 2-1.

He paid, though, for missed doubles for the set as van Gerwen took out double nine and then an 11-darter to square the match.

He then went in front for the first time by winning the seventh set 3-1 - hitting seven perfect darts in the fourth leg as he set up another possible nine-darter.

Van Barneveld levelled matters by winning set eight with legs of 14, 12 and 15 darts, and then edged the ninth in a decider with a superb 121 finish.

A 130 finish on the bullseye put van Barneveld ahead in the tenth set, and he doubled the advantage before van Gerwen won leg three with his opponent sat on 28.

However, van Barneveld won the next leg on double 16 to complete a thrilling victory in a remarkable contest.

"I will hopefully have a good final but Peter has been superb all week," he added. "I'm very proud of him, he is doing really well.

"I spoke to him a couple of times this week about what he has changed and he is more relaxed and his darts are going in.

"Last year after reaching the World Championship final it wasn't a very comfortable year so I'm pleased for him.

"He is still unbeaten whereas I got beaten twice, by Mervyn and Peter, so hopefully we are going to have a fantastic match tomorrow night."

Match Stats