Whitewashes Set Up Taylor-Barney Final

PHIL TAYLOR and Raymond van Barneveld will meet in the final of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship, following 6-0 wins over Andy Hamilton and Andy Jenkins in Saturday's semi-finals.

Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship
Semi-Finals
Raymond van Barneveld 6-0 Andy Jenkins
Phil Taylor 6-0 Andy Hamilton

Final
7.30pm, Monday 1 January 2007
Raymond van Barneveld v Phil Taylor

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 6-0 ANDY JENKINS
(3-1, 3-0, 3-2, 3-0, 3-0, 3-1)

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD stormed into the final of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship with a straight sets rout of Andy Jenkins.

The Dutchman produced an imperious display to finally end the hopes of Portsmouth battler Jenkins, who had won through to his first ever World Championship semi.

The number 12 seed won just four legs in the match, and had few chances after seeing the opportunity to win the third set, and reduce van Barneveld's lead to 2-1, slip through his fingers.

Van Barneveld took the opening set 3-1, moving ahead with two 13-darters and then landing double 18 after Jenkins missed two darts to level at 2-2.

The Dutchman continued to pound the treble twenty bed in taking the second set without reply with two further 13-darters.

He led 2-0 in the third and set up a potential ten-darter in leg three with scores of 140, 180 and 165, only to suffer double trouble and allow Jenkins in to take out double top - after being sat on 206 when van Barneveld left 16.

Jenkins also stepped in to take the fourth leg but missed two darts at double top for the set before van Barneveld regained his touch at double 18 to move 3-0 up.

Two 14-darters and a 106 finish for a 15-darter gave van Barneveld set four, and he also took the fifth without reply to move close to victory.

Jenkins took the opening leg of set six, but van Barneveld used just 42 more darts in winning the next three to complete a remarkable triumph.

"I think I played really well," said van Barneveld, who averaged over 99 and had a 45 percent checkout ratio.

"I expected more from Andy but I kept him under pressure in every leg.

"I prepared myself well but it's been hard for Andy because I've had a couple of days off and he has played for three days in a row."

He will now face Phil Taylor in Monday's final, which is seen by many as a dream final following van Barneveld's switch to the PDC in February.

"I had won four Lakeside titles and a lot of people said I was the best player in the world because of that," said van Barneveld. "But there was a voice in my head that said I wasn't and had to prove myself against Phil.

"I said to myself in February that it would be fantastic to play in the World Championship because you dream of world titles.

"Phil was the biggest reason I joined and it is an exciting prospect - I know I'll have to play world class darts to beat him.

"He is so complete, he doesn't miss many doubles and he takes his time. He is so focused and dedicated and you have to do the same to beat him."

Jenkins said: "I wasn't at my best but Ray put me under pressure and showed why he's the second best player on the planet.

"After what I've been through in the past month, with my dad dying, I'm very happy to have reached the semi-finals.

"Raymond didn't miss many doubles during the match and if I'd taken the third set I would have had the momentum going into the fourth set with the throw - but I didn't deserve the chance."

Jenkins had been called on Saturday morning by Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp, who wished him luck on behalf of the team.

"We've met a few times and that was nice," added Jenkins. "They lost at Bolton today so it wasn't the best day for either of us, but hopefully on another day we'll be winners!"

Match Stats

Raymond van Barneveld	6-0 (3-1, 3-0, 3-2, 3-0, 3-0, 3-1)	Andy Jenkins
27	100+	31
21	140+	9
9	180	2
33.08	Ave1	28.81
99.23	Ave3	86.42
106	High Finish	86

PHIL TAYLOR 6-0 ANDY HAMILTON
(3-0, 3-0, 3-2, 3-2, 3-0, 3-1)

PHIL TAYLOR produced a brilliant display to whitewash Andy Hamilton and set up a final against Raymond van Barneveld at the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.

The defending and 13-time World Champion averaged over 106 in a thrilling show, limiting his Stoke rival to just five legs in the match.

He took the first six legs without reply to open up a two-set lead.

Hamilton hit back to lead 2-1 in the third, including a 148 finish, before a 105 checkout from Taylor levelled matters.

He then took the set with a fine 11-darter, and the next two legs to lead in the fourth set.

Hamilton again battled back, with a 14-darter followed by a 124 checkout before Taylor was again the stronger in the decider.

Taylor accelerated away to win the fifth set 3-0 thanks to two 11-darters, a 13-darter and four maximums.

The defending champion then sealed the win by taking the sixth set 3-1 to ensure a battle with van Barneveld on Monday evening.

"I think it's the final that everybody wanted," said Taylor. "It's got a lot of things attached to it, it will be a real battle and I'll be up for it.

"Neither of us will give in. Ray is very professional and good at what he does. We've both worked very hard to get through and it should be a cracker.

"He's no quitter and I like him. In many ways he's like Andy was tonight, he never gave in and when I was a few sets up he was still fighting.

"Andy will learn a lot from that. He's a good player, a lovely lad and he has a lot of respect, and he will work harder now."

Hamilton admitted: "I'm disappointed with the way I played. I just wanted to perform and at the end I just wanted to get off the stage.

"I've got to be happy with getting to the semi-finals at the end of the day, but I've got mixed emotions. I've got to get back on the practise board and prepare myself for the next tournament."

Match Stats