RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD won the European Darts Open title on Sunday night, crowning a superb weekend of darts at the Maritim Hotel in Dusseldorf with a 6-4 defeat of Dave Chisnall in the final.
The Dutchman took the £15,000 first prize in the third of the PDC's European Tour events with a fine day of darts, following up his earlier wins over Ian White and Brendan Dolan with victories against Gino Vos, James Wade, Richie Burnett and Chisnall.
After defeating young Dutchman Vos 6-2 in Sunday afternoon's third round, van Barneveld repeated the scoreline in the quarter-finals as he came from 2-0 down to defeat world number three Wade by winning six successive legs.
Van Barneveld then defeated former World Champion Burnett 6-4 in the semis, and won the final by the same scoreline.
He hit a 136 checkout in taking an early 3-1 lead and landed four 180s in the game before sealing victory in style with an 11-dart finish.
"I'm really pleased and happy that I won this tournament," said van Barneveld. "This is a big achievement for me.
"Dave is really playing well at the moment and I'm so happy. I said in January that I was going to play in every tournament and see what happens, and so far I'm doing really well.
"I believe that since I've invested more in myself this year I've got more out of it.
"It seems so long ago for me since I won a 'major' tournament and for me this was a major because you had a big crowd and fantastic players."
He added: "I'm going to go away now and practice every day for the next two weeks building up to the World Matchplay, and hopefully I can do well there."
Chisnall's run saw him reach a second successive European Tour final, with the St Helens ace following up his loss to Phil Taylor in the German Darts Championship final in Berlin a fortnight ago by reaching the Dusseldorf decider.
He defeated Mark Dudbridge 6-2 in the third round before seeing off Simon Whitlock in a deciding leg in the quarter-finals, and then overcame Mervyn King 6-3 in the semis as he took home £7,500.
Burnett rolled back the years with some brilliant performances in Dusseldorf, defeating youngsters Michael van Gerwen and James Hubbard on Sunday to win through to the semis, where he picked up £5,000 prize money.
King's run to the semis included victories against Steve Beaton and Colin Osborne on Sunday, as he defeated the latter in the quarter-finals with a 105 average, and he moves back up to 18th in the PDC Order of Merit following the tournament.
PDC Unicorn World Youth Champion Hubbard's achievement in reaching the quarter-finals also saw him claim a qualifying place in the Betfair World Matchplay, as he defeated Mark Walsh in the third round on Sunday afternoon.
Osborne also secured a Blackpool spot in the final tournament before the qualifying cut-off, and he was joined in losing at the quarter-final stage by Wade and Whitlock.
The next European Tour event will be held in Sindelfingen, Stuttgart, from September 7-9. For ticket information, visit www.pdc-europe.net.
European Darts Open
European Tour Event Three
Sunday July 8
Quarter-Finals
Mervyn King 6-2 Colin Osborne
Simon Whitlock 5-6 Dave Chisnall
James Wade 2-6 Raymond van Barneveld
James Hubbard 2-6 Richie Burnett
Semi-Finals
Mervyn King 3-6 Dave Chisnall
Raymond van Barneveld 6-4 Richie Burnett
Final
Dave Chisnall 4-6 Raymond van Barneveld
MATCH INFORMATION
QUARTER-FINALS
Mervyn King v Colin Osborne
0-0 - Mervyn King won the bull and will throw first
0-1 - The players trade 180s, with Osborne taking an immediate break of throw with an 11-darter as he finishes 81.
1-1 - King scores 140, 180 and 140 to continue the strong start from both players, and he finishes double four to win the leg and break back.
2-1 - King takes out a 120 'Shanghai' finish to move back in front.
3-1 - King lands another 180 and finishes double 12 for a 14-darter to break again.
3-2 - Osborne scores 174, 140 and 171 to leave 16, and hits double eight for a ten-darter to break back.
4-2 - Osborne pays the price for missing a single 20 to leave the bullseye as King takes out 81 to regain his two-leg lead.
5-2 - King produces another bullseye finish, this time taking out 121 for a 12-darter.
6-2 - King seals a brilliant victory with another 12-darter, this time taking out 81 on double six to end the game with a 105 average.
Mervyn King: "I was back on the practice board after my game this afternoon and it worked because this was more like how I want to play."
Match Stats
|
Mervyn King |
6-2 |
Colin Osborne |
|
9 |
100+ |
5 |
|
10 |
140+ |
6 |
|
0 |
170+ |
2 |
|
4 |
180 |
1 |
|
105.44 |
Average |
96.03 |
|
121 |
High Finish |
81 |
|
4 |
Breaks of Throw |
2 |
Simon Whitlock v Dave Chisnall
0-0 - Dave Chisnall wins the bull and will throw first.
1-0 - Chisnall misses the bull to finish 90 and Whitlock takes out 64 to break.
2-0 - Whitlock hits a 180 and finishes 99 on double 16 to move two legs clear.
2-1 - Chisnall opens with 140,180 and 134 and finishes double four for a 14-darter to get off the mark.
3-1 - Whitlock hits a 180 to leave 38, and lands double 19 to win his third leg.
3-2 - Chisnall opens with a 180 and takes out a seemingly effortless 142 on tops for a 12-darter.
3-3 - Whitlock powers in his third 180 of the game, but misses a dart at tops and Chisnall returns to hit double 18 with his third dart to break throw and level.
4-3 - Whitlock finishes 102 to regain the lead, using a treble 18, single 16, double 16 combination.
5-3 - Chisnall misses a dart at tops, and Whitlock finishes double 12 to move a leg away from the semi-finals.
5-4 - Whitlock fires in his fourth 180 of the game, only for Chisnall to take out 142 for the second time in the match for a 12-darter.
5-5 - Whitlock misses five darts double 16, eight and four for the match, and Chisnall converts double 18 at the third time of asking to force a decider.
5-6 - Chisnall scores 140, 100 and 131 to be first to a finish, with Whitlock unable to score more than a ton as the St Helens ace takes out double 19 for a 13-darter.
Dave Chisnall: "I got lucky there! It was a class game, a real battle throughout and I'm delighted to be in the semis."
Match Stats
|
Simon Whitlock |
5-6 |
Dave Chisnall |
|
13 |
100+ |
17 |
|
6 |
140+ |
9 |
|
0 |
170+ |
0 |
|
4 |
180 |
2 |
|
95.66 |
Average |
100.63 |
|
102 |
High Finish |
142 x2 |
|
2 |
Breaks of Throw |
2 |
James Wade v Raymond van Barneveld
0-0 - James Wade wins the bull and will throw first.
1-0 - Wade hits a 180 with his second visit to the oche and follows that with a 168, and when van Barneveld misses double 16 for a 146 finish he steps in to take the opener in 13 darts on tops.
2-0 - van Barneveld opens with a 180, but Wade scores 140, 134 and 180 before landing double ten to break.
2-1 - van Barneveld hits another 180, and after wiring the bull for a 121 finish he returns to break on double eight.
2-2 - van Barneveld hits double ten to level the match.
2-3 - Both players hit two 140s, with van Barneveld missing the bull to take out 121 but being allowed back by three missed doubles from Wade, with the Dutchman hitting double eight to lead for the first time.
2-4 - For the second successive leg, Wade hits two 140s but misses double top and two darts at double ten, with van Barneveld stepping in to finish 123 on the bullseye - having hit three 60s and a 58 earlier in the leg.
2-5 - van Barneveld hits a 177 to leave 24, and when Wade misses the bull for a 123 finish of his own the Dutchman wins the leg on double six.
2-6 - Wade is unable to finish 108, and van Barneveld takes out 66 on double 18 in two darts for the win.
Raymond van Barneveld: "James made a brilliant start in the first two legs - it was true class - but I relaxed then and won six legs in a row. It was a weird match but maybe this was a sign of the new Raymond, I never give up in a match and believe in myself, and the 123 finish was the important one of the whole match."
Match Stats
|
James Wade |
2-6 |
Raymond van Barneveld |
|
10 |
100+ |
12 |
|
7 |
140+ |
6 |
|
0 |
170+ |
1 |
|
2 |
180 |
2 |
|
100.15 |
Average |
100.07 |
|
47 |
High Finish |
123 |
|
1 |
Breaks of Throw |
3 |
James Hubbard v Richie Burnett
0-0 - Richie Burnett wins the bull and will throw first.
0-1 - Burnett finishes 64 on tops to take the opening leg.
1-1 - Hubbard finishes tops to level.
1-2 - Burnett holds throw to take the third leg on tops.
2-2 - Hubbard lands a 180 and takes the leg on double four.
2-3 - Burnett opens with two 140s and finishes double 12 for a 13-darter.
2-4 - Burnett breaks for the first time on double ten with a 15-dart finish.
2-5 - Hubbard hits a 180 but Burnett finishes 102 on double 11 to move a leg away from victory.
2-6 - Burnett posts a 180 to leave 136, and he takes out the finish to book a semi-final place with a 101 average.
Richie Burnett: "My finishing was important there and I'm happy with that. James is a wonderful person, like his father Vic, who I've played against too, and I think James has a massive future. I'm looking forward to the game against Raymond, it's always great playing against him."
Match Stats
|
James Hubbard |
2-6 |
Richie Burnett |
|
9 |
100+ |
12 |
|
4 |
140+ |
7 |
|
0 |
170+ |
0 |
|
2 |
180 |
1 |
|
90.96 |
Average |
101.20 |
|
40 |
High Finish |
136 |
|
0 |
Breaks of Throw |
2 |
SEMI-FINALS
Mervyn King v Dave Chisnall
0-0 - Mervyn King wins the bull and will throw first.
1-0 - King misses two darts at double 18, but Chisnall is unable to finish 120 and he returns to land double nine.
1-1 - Chisnall finishes 72 on tops to level.
1-2 - Chisnall scores 140, 134 and 180 to leave 47, with King following three tons with a maximum but being denied a dart for the leg as Chisnall breaks on double ten for a 12-darter.
1-3 - Chisnall finishes tops for a 14-darter to move two legs clear.
1-4 - Chisnall hits a 174 to leave 32, and finishes double 16 for a 13-darter to break again.
1-5 - Chisnall lands three successive 140s, and hits double 16 for another 13-dart finish - moving his average up to nearly 105.
2-5 - King is first to a finish, but misses two darts to take out 96 - only for Chisnall to be off-target on tops to allow him back in to keep the match alive on double nine.
3-5 - King wires double 14 for a 121 finish, but returns to hit double seven for a 13-darter to break throw.
3-6 - King hits two 140s before Chisnall lands a maximum, and when King misses a dart at double 16 the St Helens man steps in to take out 114 for the match and win through to his second successive European Tour final.
Match Stats
|
Mervyn King |
3-6 |
Dave Chisnall |
|
16 |
100+ |
8 |
|
9 |
140+ |
9 |
|
0 |
170+ |
1 |
|
1 |
180 |
2 |
|
95.17 |
Average |
99.69 |
|
18 |
High Finish |
114 |
|
1 |
Breaks of Throw |
3 |
Raymond van Barneveld v Richie Burnett
0-0 - Raymond van Barneveld wins the bull and will throw first.
1-0 - van Barneveld finishes tops to open with a 13-dart leg.
1-1 - Both players open with 140s before Burnett fires in a 180 and another 140 before finishing double 16 for an 11-darter.
2-1 - van Barneveld posts two 140s and takes out 64 on double eight for a 14-dart finish.
2-2 - Burnett lands double ten to level the contest.
3-2 - van Barneveld hits his first 180 of the game and wins the leg on double eight.
4-2 - Burnett is first to a finish after hitting two 140s, but misses two darts at double four, with van Barneveld breaking throw on double five with his third dart.
4-3 - van Barneveld misses double 16 for a 112 finish to steal the leg, and Burnett hits double ten to break back.
4-4 - Burnett lands a 180 as both players leave a finish after nine darts, and the Welshman posts double ten for a 100 checkout to level.
5-4 - van Barneveld misses the bull for a 170 finish, but has enough cushion to return and land double eight for a 14-darter.
6-4 - Burnett is unable to take out 97, and van Barneveld takes out 68 on double four to seal the win.
Match Stats
|
Raymond van Barneveld |
6-4 |
Richie Burnett |
|
9 |
100+ |
18 |
|
11 |
140+ |
10 |
|
0 |
170+ |
0 |
|
1 |
180 |
2 |
|
98.13 |
Average |
98.46 |
|
68 |
High Finish |
100 |
|
2 |
Breaks of Throw |
1 |
FINAL
Dave Chisnall v Raymond van Barneveld
0-0 - Dave Chisnall wins the bull and will throw first.
0-1 - van Barneveld overcomes some early double trouble by landing double five.
1-1 - Chisnall finishes 100 to break back.
1-2 - van Barneveld posts a 180, and Chisnall replies in kind to bring the crowd to their feet - with the Dutchman raising the roof with a superb 136 checkout.
1-3 - Chisnall hits another 180, but van Barneveld finishes 79 on double 11 to move two legs clear.
2-3 - Chisnall takes the fifth leg with a superb 140 checkout of two treble 18s and double 16.
2-4 - van Barneveld opens with a 180 and hits tops to win his fourth leg.
3-4 - Chisnall lands double five with his fifth attempt at a double in the leg as he cuts the gap to one.
3-5 - van Barneveld follows two tons with a 180, and finishes double eight for a 14-darter to move a leg away from victory.
4-5 - Chisnall misses five darts to save the match, but van Barneveld misses the same number for the title - and double one from Chisnall sees him keep the game alive.
4-6 - van Barneveld opens with a 100 and a 140 before firing in a 180 to leave 81 - and this time he secures the title in 11 darts on double 12.
Match Stats
|
Dave Chisnall |
4-6 |
Raymond van Barneveld |
|
9 |
100+ |
15 |
|
8 |
140+ |
5 |
|
0 |
170+ |
0 |
|
2 |
180 |
4 |
|
82.16 |
Average |
93.97 |
|
140 |
High Finish |
136 |
|
1 |
Breaks of Throw |
2 |