Dutch master erases Taylor

Van Barneveld comes through in deciding leg

Last updated: 8th June 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Dutch master erases Taylor

Van Barneveld: 10-9 win over Taylor

Blue Square UK Open - Quarter-final results
G Mawson 10-6 W Jones
V van der Voort 10-5 C Thompson
R van Barneveld 10-9 P Taylor
J Wade 10-6 A Tabern

Semi-final draw
J Wade v V van der Voort
R van Barneveld v G Mawson

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Raymond van Barneveld continued his Blue Square UK Open dominance over Phil Taylor with a 10-9 victory in their quarter-final.

It is the third successive year that 13-time world champion Taylor has been beaten by his Dutch rival at this stage of the Bolton event.

Taylor, fresh from a nine-darter on Saturday, reeled off five consecutive legs to turn an early 3-0 deficit into a 5-3 lead.

But van Barneveld responded in kind by taking the next five, including a 100 checkout, and looked in control of proceedings at 8-5 in front.

The momentum swung back to Taylor, who claimed three on the bounce to level at 8-8. The next to were shared meaning a deciding leg was required.

And it was van Barneveld who came through, landing a crucial 180 to leave himself a checkout of 109, which he duly completed with treble 20, single 17 and double 16 to leave Taylor stranded on a 107 finish.

"I can't describe how happy I am," said van Barneveld. "I've won so many tournaments but it always means so much to me to beat the greatest player ever.

Unbeatable

"He's been unbeatable for three months - what he's done since February is amazing - but I said to myself when the draw came out that I had to believe in myself because it's always 0-0 at the start of every game.

"I've shown that I'm still one of the few players who can beat Phil - I need the pressure and maybe I focus better in knockout games."

Taylor was gracious in defeat, saying: "I tried hard, and maybe I was trying too hard in that last leg.

"Raymond's 180 was great and it was a brilliant shot on that 109 to win it. He's got a lot of bottle and I hope he goes on and wins the tournament."

Mawson victory

Van Barneveld will face Gary Mawson in the semi-final after the American defeated Wayne Jones 10-6.

Mawson sealed the win with an 11-dart leg, having also had checkouts of 121, 117 and 103 during an impressive display.

The other last-four clash is between James Wade and Vincent van der Voort.

Van der Voort ended the challenge of York solicitors clerk Chris Thompson 10-5, while Wade - also a semi-finalist here two years ago - eased past Alan Tabern by a 10-6 margin.

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