Van Barneveld Ready
for
Power Test

Three-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld insisted last night he would relish another opportunity to play Phil Taylor - arguably the game's greatest-ever player.

The Dutchman lost by 21 legs to 10 when the pair met at Wembley Conference Centre in 1999, but he did not like the hour-long format and admitted he was not at his best on the night.

However, the 36-year-old is probably playing the best darts of his career after narrowly missing out on the Grand Slam last year.

He backed up that theory last night when he demolished John Walton by five sets to one in the quarter-finals of the (British Darts Organisation) Lakeside World Championship, finishing with a record three-dart average for the tournament of 103.83.

Dennis Priestley, who now plays alongside Taylor on the Professional Darts Corporation circuit, held the previous record with an average of 102.63 during the old Embassy-backed tournament in 1993.

But Taylor - who won his 11th title at the rival Ladbrokes.com World Championship last week - showed what he is capable of when he finished
with a three-dart average of 111.21 in the PDC's premier event two years ago.

Another head-to-head battle between the two would be a massive event.

And although Taylor said earlier this week that he was calling time on his career, van Barneveld believes he will play on and has not ruled out another mouth-watering contest.

" I don't think Phil will retire because he is a great player - and great players can earn a lot of money," he said. "And if he ever challenged me then I am ready for him.

" I broke my ankle six weeks before our last game and I didn't play my best darts.

" When you fall behind and the clock is ticking, you know you are never going to catch up in time.

" But you can't judge who is the best on just one night. Phil lost a few weeks after beating me, but that didn't mean the other player was then the best in the world."

Van Barneveld added: "I remember Phil as a very warm person and I like him a lot. If a challenge match between us was set up then I would be happy to play him."