Saturday, January 3, 2009

Taylor & Barney to meet in final

Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld
Taylor and Van Barneveld have enjoyed a memorable rivalry

Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld are set for a repeat of their classic 2007 PDC World Championship final after they both came through their semis.

Taylor was superb in his 6-2 win over Mervyn King, and he finished in style with a 10-darter in the final leg.

But Dutchman Van Barneveld had a much tougher encounter against James Wade.

The pair were never a set apart until the 10th when Van Barneveld broke the throw, and followed it up with a 128 checkout before sealing a 6-4 victory.

Sunday's final will pit the world number one against the world number two, and darts fans will inevitably think back to the 2007 thriller when Van Barneveld pipped the 13-time world champion 7-6.

It was only the third time Taylor had failed to take the crown since the tournament started in 1994.

"We're in for a cracker," said Taylor.

"That's what the crowd wants and that's what they're going to get.

606: DEBATE
"It's a friendly rivalry between me and Barney. We'll practice together then it's game on. I'm on for my 14th world title and he's on for his sixth."

Van Barneveld showed only bursts of his brilliance, seen during his 5-1 semi-final win over Jelle Klassen, during his match against third seed Wade.

Those moments came in the seventh set which he took 3-0 and then again in the crucial final two sets, when checkouts of 100 and 128 saw him through to the final.

"I didn't perform that well today," he said.

"I was very tired last night and didn't sleep at all after the nine-darter and the match against Jelle.

"I expected it to be a long game but the way I played tonight, I won't win the tournament."

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