Budweiser UK Open Glory For The Man

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD won his first major title since joining the Professional Darts Corporation by defeating Barrie Bates 13-7 to take the Budweiser UK Open title.

The Dutchman withstood the test of stamina in sweltering Reebok Stadium heat, winning six matches during the weekend to take the £30,000 first prize.

Having overcome defending champion Phil Taylor in the quarter-finals, he dispatched Northern Ireland's John MAGowan in the last four before cruising to victory over Bates.

The Welshman, who hails from Bedlinog near Merthyr Tydfil, had battled through clashes with fellow countryman Wayne Atwood, Wayne Jones, 2004 champion Roland Scholten, Alex Roy and Alan Tabern to reach the final.

But he could not match the class of van Barneveld in the final, with the four-time World Champion pulling away after the opening four legs had been shared.

He took seven successive legs to move 9-2 up before Bates hit back to cut the lead to 11-7.

But van Barneveld stopped the comeback by taking the 19th leg to move to within one leg of the match before checking out 97 to win the match - the same two-dart finish which he produced in the decider against Taylor.

"I can't believe it," said van Barneveld. "This is a great tournament to win, it's so hard because you have to play a lot of matches and stay focused.

"I'm very tired, and I was exhausted after the quarter-final against Phil, but I said to myself that I had a chance to win this and I had to take it.

"I hope it's the first of many with the PDC, and my next focus is to get into the World Matchplay as we have the qualifiers next weekend, then I go to Las Vegas and play in the qualifiers for the Desert Classic too."

Bates, who has won two tournaments on the PDC circuit in 2006, reached his first major final by coming through the field to face the Dutchman.

"I've lost to one of the best players in the world and I'm proud," said Bates, a builders merchant from South Wales.

"I'll have a day off tomorrow and then go back to work on Tuesday!"

Budweiser UK Open Final

Raymond van Barneveld

13-7

Barrie Bates

21

100+

26

14

140+

12

4

180

1

30.50

Ave1

27.66

91.51

Ave3

82.98

97

High Finish

80