PHIL TAYLOR defeated Raymond van Barneveld 4-1 to win the inaugural PDC US Open title at the Mohegan Sun Casino, Connecticut.

The 13-time World Champion was close to his imperious best throughout the weekend, battling through from a field of over 230 players to claim the £12,500 winner's cheque.

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Taylor dropped just three legs in the final, with an off-colour van Barneveld paying for missed doubles.

Taylor won the first set 2-1 with a 13-darter in the deciding leg, before doubling his advantage by winning the second without reply.

Van Barneveld had hit six perfect darts in the second leg of set two, but never reached the double as Taylor went out in 12 darts.

The Dutchman hit back from 1-0 down to win the third set in a decider, but Taylor stepped up another gear.

He took the next four legs without reply to add yet another title to his unparalleled honours list.

"I'm delighted," said Taylor. "This has been a really tough event to win and it's obviously extra special to beat Ray in the final."

Van Barneveld said: "I'm very disappointed because my worst performance of the weekend was in the final. I've landed ten, 11 and 12-darters but I couldn't find it there.

"Credit to Phil, he's the greatest player in the world and he showed why today."

Phil Taylor

4-1

Raymond van Barneveld

18

100+

17

8

140+

6

1

180

4

34.37

Ave1

33.02

103.10

Ave3

99.06

64

High Finish

60


The tournament resumed on Sunday from the last 16 onwards, with reports and results below.

Last 16 Round-Up
AMERICAN hopes at the PDC US Open were ended in the last 16 as Mark Dudbridge defeated Jim Widmayer 3-1 to put himself into the last eight.

Phil Taylor survived a strong fightback from Kevin Painter to edge a 3-2 victory after initially seeing a 2-0 lead pegged back.

Raymond van Barneveld, John Part and Ronnie Baxter all raced to straight sets wins against Barrie Bates, Mick McGowan and Peter Manley respectively.

Roland Scholten meets World Champion van Barneveld in the quarter-finals following his 3-1 defeat of Wayne Jones.

Andy Hamilton set up a clash with Dudbridge with a 3-1 defeat of Dennis Priestley.

In the televised clash, Mervyn King produced a remarkable comeback from two sets down to defeat Wayne Mardle 3-2 and set up a meeting with Taylor.

Quarter-Finals
Raymond van Barneveld 3-0 Roland Scholten (2-1, 2-1, 2-1)

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD was the first man to progress into the semi-finals of the PDC US Open with a straight sets win over Roland Scholten.

The World Champion was made to work hard by his fellow Dutchman, winning each set only in a deciding leg but finishing with an impressive averaged of 109.89.

He opened the match with a 13-darter and held his throw in the third leg to land double 16 and take the first set.

Despite a maximum from Scholten in the second set's opener, van Barneveld broke the throw with double eight after missing the bullseye for a 170 finish.

Scholten broke back with a fine 12-darter, landing three 140s and then checking out on double nine.

He was also sat on a finish in the decider after hitting another 180, but van Barneveld's double top moved him two clear.

The World Champion then moved one-up in the third set by landing a brilliant ten-darter, which began with five treble 20s, and though Scholten responded in 13 darts he took out 81 in the third leg for the win.

Raymond van Barneveld

3-0

Roland Scholten

13

100+

5

8

140+

10

2

180

2

36.63

Ave1

32.24

109.89

Ave3

96.72

81

High Finish

81


Andy Hamilton 3-0 Mark Dudbridge (2-0, 2-0, 2-0)

ANDY HAMILTON whitewashed Mark Dudbridge with a clinical display of finishing to move into the last four of the PDC US Open.

Dudbridge paid the price for missed doubles in five of the six legs in the match, and was never given a chance after going two sets down.

Hamilton stole the opening leg against the throw with a 70 finish after Dudbridge missed double top and double ten, and his missed bull in the second for a 167 finish allowed the Stoke man in to land double 18 for the first set.

Dudbridge missed double top and double ten again in the opening leg of set two, before his missed double 12 was punished by Hamilton in the second as the lead was doubled.

Hamilton moved to within a leg of victory with a brilliant 145 checkout of treble 19, treble 16 and double top in the opener to the third set, with Dudbridge missing two darts at double eight.

He then wrapped up the win on double 16 to set up a tasty semi-final against Raymond van Barneveld.

Andy Hamilton

3-0

Mark Dudbridge

9

100+

8

3

140+

5

1

180

-

32.32

Ave1

30.12

96.96

Ave3

90.36

145

High Finish

-


John Part 3-0 Ronnie Baxter (2-0, 2-0, 2-1)

CANADA'S John Part moved into the semi-finals with a straight sets defeat of Ronnie Baxter at the Mohegan Sun Casino, Connecticut.

The two-time World Champion showed his class with some superb finishing to end Baxter's hopes, hitting a 170 finish and a 144 checkout during the contest.

He landed a maximum in the opening leg, and took the first set 2-0 with his first big finish, a fine 144 of two treble 20s and double 12.

Part won the second also without reply, taking the set with the maximum checkout of 170 after Baxter failed to land double top.

A 78 finish on double top gave him the opening leg of the third set before Baxter finally got off the mark, hitting double top after Part had missed two darts for the match.

But the Canadian wasted little more time and took out double six for victory after Baxter again missed his doubles.

John Part

3-0

Ronnie Baxter

7

100+

8

9

140+

6

2

180

-

32.63

Ave1

30.38

97.88

Ave3

91.14

170,144

High Finish

40


Phil Taylor 3-0 Mervyn King (2-0, 2-0, 2-1)

PHIL TAYLOR marched into the last four of the PDC US Open with a superb 3-0 whitewash of Mervyn King.

Taylor dropped just one leg in the match and was clinical in his finishing to see off the PDC newcomer.

He hit double 16 in the first three legs to win the first set without reply, taking the set with a 105 finish, and then move a leg up in the second.

King paid for missed doubles in the next leg, landing a maximum but missing the bullseye for a 130 finish and then two darts at double eight to allow Taylor in for a stunning 110 checkout on double 15.

Taylor broke the throw with double 12 to win the third set's opener before King finally got off the mark, punishing a missed double six from his opponent to take out 86 on double seven.

But Taylor finished with a flourish to take out 95 for the win and create a semi-final with long-time adversary John Part.

Phil Taylor

3-0

Mervyn King

5

100+

8

15

140+

5

-

180

1

35.66

Ave1

33.21

106.98

Ave3

99.63

110,105

High Finish

86


Semi-Finals
Raymond van Barneveld 3-1 Andy Hamilton (2-0, 2-1, 1-2, 2-0)

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD powered past Andy Hamilton to book his place in the final of the PDC US Open with a 3-1 win.

The Dutchman punished early misses from Hamilton to take the first set without reply, before coming from a leg down in the second to double his advantage.

Hamilton lifted his game and took the third set 2-1, hitting a fine 11-darter in the final leg - including back-to-back maximums - to stay in the contest.

But that merely rattled van Barneveld, who took out 161 for the fourth set's opening leg and then a neat 100 on double ten for victory.

Raymond van Barneveld

3-1

Andy Hamilton

10

100+

12

9

140+

4

3

180

5

33.36

Ave1

32.65

100.09

Ave3

97.96

161,100

High Finish

62


Phil Taylor 3-1 John Part (2-1, 1-2, 2-1, 2-0)

PHIL TAYLOR won the latest battle with long-time adversary John Part 3-1 to move into the final of the PDC US Open.

There was little to separate the duo over the first three sets, with each going to a deciding leg and with the throw.

Part hit a 123 finish on the bull in the opening set in vain as Taylor took the lead, before checking out 107 on double 16 to win the second 2-1.

Taylor twice landed double 16 in edging the third set, but crucially stepped in with a 102 finish to break throw for the first time in the match in the fourth set's opener after Part missed double top.

He then completed the win in leg two, hitting a maximum and taking out 121 to set up a final against current World Champion Raymond van Barneveld.

Phil Taylor

3-1

John Part

11

100+

14

11

140+

3

3

180

-

32.86

Ave1

31.41

98.57

Ave3

94.22

121,102

High Finish

107


PDC US Open
Fifth Round - Last 16

Phil Taylor 3-2 Kevin Painter
Mervyn King 3-2 Wayne Mardle
Mick McGowan 0-3 John Part
Peter Manley 0-3 Ronnie Baxter
Raymond van Barneveld 3-0 Barrie Bates
Roland Scholten 3-1 Wayne Jones
Dennis Priestley 1-3 Andy Hamilton
Jim Widmayer 1-3 Mark Dudbridge

Losers £3,000

Quarter-Finals

Phil Taylor 3-0 Mervyn King
John Part 3-0 Ronnie Baxter
Raymond van Barneveld 3-0 Roland Scholten
Andy Hamilton 3-0 Mark Dudbridge

Losers £4,000

Semi-Finals

Phil Taylor 3-1 John Part
Raymond van Barneveld 3-1 Andy Hamilton

Losers £5,000

Final - Best of Seven Sets, Best of Three Legs per Set

Phil Taylor 4-1 Raymond van Barneveld

Winner £12,500
Runner-Up £7,500

Click here for Day One Results