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Power failure as Barney grabs the crown in thriller
Last updated at 23:52pm on 01.01.07
Thriller winner: Raymond van Barneveld
Raymond van Barneveld won the most amazing match in darts history to beat Phil The Power Taylor to be crowned Ladbrokes.com world champion.
Van Barneveld, a former postman from The Hague, won 7-6 in a match which lasted 3hours 10min, coming back from 3-0 and 5-3 down to beat the greatest player in the sport's history.
• Barney hopes cheap flights are Taylor-made for world title
The 39-year-old Dutchman, who left the BDO to join the PDC this year just to play Taylor, had achieved his aim.
The mission was completed when Van Barneveld — known as Barney — leapt into the smoke-filled air at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet to celebrate the double top which took the match in a final set shoot-out after a set that went to 5-5.
Taylor himself had missed a chance to win when he failed to complete a 148 check-out.
Taylor, the 13-times world champion, had started the match wearing the colours of Holland — orange.
Barney smiked but had the last laugh when he landed the £100,000 prize.
Van Barneveld, a four-times BDO champion, said: "I never thought I would win a leg. I kept missing darts for the match. The last leg was just fantastic."
The Englishman hit 10 180s, but Van Barneveld had an average of 101.06 as he hit 21 maximums — the most ever in a final. It was only the fifth time he has beaten Taylor in 17 years.
Taylor, 46, said: "He came back so well and it was the best final I have ever played in."
The future of world darts is indeed orange.
