Raymond van Barneveld made darts history on Friday by becoming the first man to throw a nine-dart finish in a PDC World Championship. The extraordniary feat was part of a 5-1 demolition of fellow Dutchman Jelle Klaasen in the quarter final at the Alexandra Palace, London.
Van Barneveld, who has won the BDO World Title four times, and the PDC version once, came into the match with a couple of shaky performances in the earlier rounds, particularly against Ronnie Baxter in the third round, where the match required a sudden death leg, reminiscent of van Barneveld's famous win over Phil Taylor in the 2007 final.
But van Barnevld was back to his best, throwing a perfect nine-dart leg in the sixth set, which drew little more than a smile from the determined 'Barney,' but sent the crowd into raptures. Like a 147 break in a snooker final, the audience were aware quite how special a moment this was. History had been made.
Earlier on Friday, the other quarter final that night, between James Wade and Paul Nicholson, had no such quality. Wade, world no. 3, struggled against the world no. 126, eventually outclassing his opponent 5-3, but averaging only 81.75 with three darts. It was not much of a support act for what was to come.
In Thursday's quarter finals, 13 times World Champion, Phil 'The Power' Taylor, ended Co Stompe's good run in the tournament. Dutchman Stompe, switched from the BDO to the PDC, the two rival Darts organisations, in July 2007. In his first PDC finals, Stompe caused a couple of upsets, beating both Alan Tabern in the second round, and last year's semi-finalist Wayne 'Hawaii 501' Mardle in the third. But he was thoroughly outclassed here by 'The Power,' 5-0.
Taylor will play Mervyn King, another who switched from the BDO to the PDC in the last couple of years. He was not thoroughly convincing against Welshman Barry Bates, but King, who has already qualified for the lucrative 2009 Premier League of Darts, will be a stern test for Taylor in the second semi final.
Semi finals are to be played on Saturday 3rd January.
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PDC V BDO?? It was amazing to witness the difference in class (of players) between the two orgs. What did Phil the Power average in the final 110+? I bet the 3dart average for most of the BDO tournament was mid 80s..p1sspoor really. Shame the two organisations are split but presume like most things its all down to money. Possibly a shame that the BBC continues to televise the micky mouse organisation (BDO) event. Lets play darts.
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