Darts Federation of Australia

Day Nine Highlights

BARNEVELD STORMS TO EMBASSY TITLE

Raymond Barneveld spoke of his
"fantastic feeling" after winning the
Embassy World title for a third time on Sunday.

The Dutchman held off a valiant fight back from Welshman Ritchie Davies to prevail 6-3 in the final and add to his victories at the Lakeside in 1998 and 1999.

"When you the win the title for the first time it's very

Barneveld celebrates his victory

good," said Barneveld," he said.

"After 2000 when I lost in the first round I did not believe in myself. I've had to work hard to get on this level again.

The trophy is held aloft as a majestic display of darts from Barneveld makes him a worthy winner

"Mentally the fight came back in my life and I started to believe in myself again."

"2001 was a good year as well because I won the Dutch Open and the Winmau World Masters, but I didn't win the Embassy.

"In my opinion if you don't win it your year is lost.

But I've won it again and that's fantastic."

Beaten finalist Davies, who came back from 4-0 down to 4-3, admitted that in the crunch situations, his opponent was the better man.

"I was trying to get into the match but every time I got to a fifth leg, Raymond always came up with the big score," the Welshman said.

The 2003 Embassy World Darts Championships combatants:
Ritchie Davies (front) and Raymond Barneveld

FINAL

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 6 - RITCHIE DAVIES 3

Dutch darts ace Raymond van Barneveld picked up his third Embassy World Darts Championship title when he beat a battling Ritchie Davies at the Lakeside.

The Welshman went 4-0 down in sets but fought back to 4-3 before Barney got himself back on the winning road to collect the biggest title in darts.

Nerves played a major part in the opening leg when both players missed chance after chance at the double. Barney eventually got it after 24 darts in the leg to break Davies' advantage.

He went two up but Davies came back with 15 darts to find tops and his first success.

The Welshman led off in the fourth leg and a 180 put him ahead. But Barneveld was also hitting high scores and a brilliant 132 check-out (25 57 bull) gave hi8m the first set.

Barneveld claimed the first leg of set two with 14 darts but Davies hit back with two 14 dart legs of his own to break the two-times champion and go ahead.

The former postman took the next with 13 darts and then piled on the pressure by starting the deciding leg with a maximum. He was well ahead but only just scrapped home with double one after missing his doubles.

Both players had the opportunity to take the lead in the third, with Davies going one up with his first

throw advantage. Thirteen throws later he was two ahead and out to hold his throw and pull a set back.

Davies had three arrows to do just that but missed and Barney struck to make it 2-1
before squaring the set at 2-2.

Ritchie needed to make a 107 check-out but missed and Barney went three sets clear when he went out on 106 (20 60 x18).

Although Barneveld was in control, Davies was almost always within a throw of his opponent.

Barney held his throw to take leg of set four. Davies hit 15 darts to get back on equal terms but Barney did the same to move back in front. The Welshman kept himself alive by checking out on
103 (57 10 x18) but saw Barney start the fifth leg with a maximum that led him to an 11-dart leg
and a four-set lead.

Davies held his nerve and his first throw advantage to lead in the fifth set and then used 15 darts to move two ahead.

It seemed every time the Welshman broke his opponent he failed to score well with his first three darts in the next leg.

The third was no different as Davies hit treble three, a 20 and then had a bounce out.

That was enough to let Barneveld in and he broke back to move to 2-1 down in legs.

But battling Davies made sure he went into the break

with a set under his belt when he nailed a 12-dart finish - checking out on 121 (60 11 bull).

The Welshman (nicknamed Lamb Chop!) had the chance to break Barney in the first leg after the break but failed to capitalise and went one down.

He looked like going two behind by checked out in style with a 111-shot (20, 51 tops).

Davies went out on 94 in the next leg to go 2-1 up but Barney pulled back and was soon throwing for the set with first throw advantage.

He hit off with a disappointing 45 but got back in front but missed his chances and Davies pounced to get another set to his name.

Davies' (pictured right) comeback was gathering momentum and double tops and a 98 check-out in the second gave his confidence a boost.

He followed it with two maximums in the next leg to take the set 3-0 and move to 4-3 in sets.

Barneveld had the darts in the eighth set and claimed the opening leg with 17 arrows.

A maximum put him in command in the second which he secured - this time with 15 darts.

Barney could have won the set outright but missed with two attempts at doubles (18 and 9) and Davies nailed 100 (60 tops) to pull back to 2-1.

A neat two-dart 76 check-out (60 x8) leveled the set as the crowd roared for more of the same.

Barney found his favourite double (x18) to win the deciding leg and move a set from his third title.

Davies had the throw in the ninth set but it was Barney who pulled away. But the Dutchman missed two shots at a double and the Welshman hit tops with his third attempt to go into the lead.

Debbie Davies looks upset but it's all smiles for Sylvia Barneveld as her husband scoops the £50,000 prize

Barneveld was level 14 darts later and a smile appeared on his face for the first time when he hit double 18 again to move one leg away from the title.

He had the darts and made sure he stayed in front to leave himself 72.

Barney hit treble 12, paused and nailed double 18 once again to net his third title as a sea of orange-clad fans jumped for joy.

This Is How the 2003 Embassy Final Unfolded

First set:
The first maximum of the match goes to Davies - his 22nd of the tournament.

Nerves see both men miss several chances, before Barneveld hits a double-one. (1-0)

Davies gets to throw first and starts with a steady 100 and Barneveld responds in kind.

Barneveld makes much easier work of this leg. (2-0)

A 70 finish brings Davies his first leg. (2-1)

Barneveld finishes on 132 to take the set. (3-1)

Second set:
Barneveld shoots his first 180 of the match and wins this leg with just 14 darts. (1-0)

Davies responds in kind, requiring just 14 darts to win this leg, finishing on double-six. (1-1)

Both men have chances to finish the leg before a double eight gives Davies the lead in this set. (1-2)

Barneveld hits the double 16 - the popular finish in the game - to square the set. (2-2)

The Dutchman begins the leg with a maximum - his second of the match.

Always in control of the leg, Barneveld needs six goes before hitting the winning dart - double one.
(3-2)

Third set:
The difference in the match so far has been the Dutchman's finishing, hi strength throughout the tournament, but Davies hits a double 10 to take an early lead. (0-1)

Barneveld misses out at 74, allowing Davies to hit the double 20 and open up a third set lead. (0-2)

At 36, Davies squanders his chances with some big misses, while Barneveld hits double 20 to come back into the set. (1-2)

Barneveld hits his third maximum of the afternoon and nearly makes it a 12-dart leg. He finishes the leg with a double-two. (2-2)

Barneveld shows his true class by finishing on 116 - treble 20, 20 and double 18, to win the set. (3-2)

Fourth set:
This leg is never close - Barneveld opens up a clear lead before finishing with a double three. (1-0)

The Welshman makes hard work of a 48-finish, but manages it nonetheless. (1-1)

Davies hits his second maximum of the afternoon but he struggles to ever put his opponent under pressure.

Another 118 finish gives Barneveld this leg - his confidence is making him the far superior player. (2-1)

Davies' best finish of the match - 103 - brings him the leg and takes the set into a decider. (2-2)

Once again, in a deciding leg, Davies fails to raise his game, as Barneveld requires just 11 darts to seal the set. (3-2)

Fifth set:
A lackluster leg, which Davies wins with his 17th dart, hitting the double 16. (0-1)

He takes the leg with a double-eight finish. (0-2)

Davies hits his fourth maximum of the afternoon and nearly finishes from 161.

An interesting statistic shows that Barneveld has succeeded with less than a third of his checkout attempts.

Although the Dutchman fumbles his way to the leg, he once again claws his way back into the set.
(1-2)

Barneveld gives Davies a timely reminder that he is in the set with another maximum.

The players match each other for their first nine darts before Davies produces a superb finish - 121 consisting of treble-20, 11 and bullseye to win his first set, as the pair enjoy a welcome rest. (1-3)

Sixth set:
Davies hits his fifth maximum of the afternoon, but both players squander several chances to win the leg, before Barneveld hits a double three. (1-0)

Davies ups his game to finish from 111. (1-1)

This is a curious match - Barneveld hits the 12th maximum of it, but the scoring is not of the highest quality.

A bullseye gives Davies the leg, completing an unusually 94 finish. (1-2)

Barneveld hits his eighth 180 of the afternoon and dominates the leg, finishing with double 16. (2-2)

At 96, Barneveld misses out, while Davies clinches the set with double 20. (2-3)

Barneveld starts the leg with 40 - Davies hits 121.

Seventh set:
It is Davies' favourite double - the 20 - which gives him this leg, as Barneveld's form seems to be deserting him. (0-1)

But Davies pinches the set with a miraculous 98 finish, as the Dutchman again chokes at the finish, failing to convert from 24. (0-2)

It is impossible to take your eyes off this - Barneveld hits another maximum - his ninth.

A double 10 brings the Welshman right back into the match. (0-3)

The atmosphere is crackling - both men are hitting maximums for fun and Davies is starting to look very confident.

Eighth set:
Barneveld hits his 10th maximum of the match but again stumbles at the finish, before hitting the double one. (1-0)

A 76 finish is all Barneveld needs as his opponent stumbles again. (2-0)

Davies, seemingly out of the set, rallies to finish from 100 (2-1)

The Welshman produces another sublime finish at 76 to square the set. (2-2)

Perhaps the most crucial leg of the match sees Barneveld just take it with a nervy double 18. (3-2)

Ninth set:
Barneveld misses out from 84 and Davies hits the crucial double 20 at his third attempt. (0-1)

Barneveld is always up in this leg and squares the set with double 16. (1-1)

Barneveld gets to within one leg of the title with another 96 finish. (2-1)

With 72 remaining, Barneveld hits a confident treble 12, followed by the double 18 which has been his favourite shot of the day to clinch his third title and end this gripping final. (3-1)

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
Final:
(2) Raymond van Barneveld bt Ritchie Davies 6-3 (3-1, 3-2, 3-2, 3-2, 1-3, 2-3, 0-3, 3-2. 3-0)

Semi-finals:
Ritchie Davies bt Gary Anderson 5-2

(2) Raymond van Barneveld bt (3) Mervyn King 5-2

Quarter-finals:
Ritchie Davies bt (1) Tony David (Aus) 5-0

Gary Anderson bt Bob Taylor 5-0

(2) Raymond van Barneveld bt Erik Clarys 5-1

(3) Mervyn King bt Colin Monk 5-0

2nd rd:
(2) Raymond van Barneveld bt John Burton 3-0

Erik Clarys bt Robert Wagner 3-0

Colin Monk bt (6) Tony O'Shea 3-2 (6-5 in legs)

(3) Mervyn King bt Dennis Harbour 3-1.

Vincent Van de Voort lost to (1) Tony David 1-3

Ritchie Davies bt (8) John Walton 3-0

Gary Anderson bt (5) Andy Fordham 3-1

Bob Taylor bt (4) Martin Adams 3-1

1st rd
J Komula (Fin) lost to Vincent van der Voort (Ned) 1-3

(1) Tony David (Aus) bt Brian Sorensen (Den) 3-1

Ritchie Davies (Wal) bt Albertino Essers (Ned) 3-1

(8) John Walton (Eng) bt Martin Phillips (Wal) 3-2

Peter Johnstone (Sco) lost to Gary Anderson (Sco) 1-3

(5) Andy Fordham (Eng) bt Stefan Nagy (Swe) 3-0

Peter Hunt (Nzl) lost to Bob Taylor (Sco) 0-3

(4) Martin Adams (Eng) bt Co Stompe (Ned) 3-1

Daryll Fitton (Eng) lost to John Burton (Wal) 1-3

(2) Ray van Barneveld (Ned) bt Matt Clark (Eng) 3-1

Gary Robson (Eng) lost to Robert Wagner (Nor) 1-3

(7) Tony Ecelles (Eng) lost to Erik Clarys (Bel) 1-3

Colin Monk (Eng) bt Shaun Greatbatch (Eng) 3-0

(6) Tony O'Shea (Eng) bt Ted Hankey (Eng) 3-2

Dennis Harbour (Eng) bt James Wade (Eng) 3-2

(3) Mervyn King (Eng) bt Steve Coote (Eng) 3-1

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