|
|
INTERNATIONAL DARTS LEAGUE:
THE HAGUE - MAY 17 TO 25, 2003
|
|
Aussies
Tony David and Steve Duke did us proud at the
International Darts League in the Netherlands. |
Steve Duke said prior to leaving for the Netherlands
“It feels fantastic, and I am really looking forward to the challenge.
I didn’t feel too good at first after hearing I was first up
against Mervyn King, but I will condition myself for it.” Condition
himself he did and won a great match. It was an important win
as he was to lose a first round match against Brian Derbyshire.
With both Steve and Mervyn King losing just the one round meant
they both would progress to the last 16 players. Steve won his
first match in the second round against Darryl Fitton, and then
lost to Raymond Barneveld. Next was the crunch game for him.
He had to defeat Shaun Greatbatch to move into the final eight
players, but lost a dramatic match 7-6 to miss the cut.
His tournament
was over, but he will benefit from this experience. |
 |
 |
Tony
David also played brilliant Darts. He cruised through the first
round of matches against Andy Smith,
Erik Clarys
and Gary Robson dropping just seven legs to move to round two.
He won the next two matches against Jarkko Komula and Rick Hofstra,
which meant a place in the final eight. He played
his last match in round two against Andy Fordham, which
he lost
7-4. Tony's loosing average was 32.53 to Andy's 33.28. |
| A costly
loss as it put him up against the tournament favourite in Raymond
Barneveld in the next round.
This was the point where the tournament became a straight knockout and unfortunately
at this stage it was not to be Tony’s day. The scoreline did not indicate how
great a game he had with Barneveld but Tony was eliminated. |
DAY ONE OF THE TOURNAMENT |
 |
All players had their briefing in the morning and 18 of them
could prepare for the first match in the afternoon. About 300
people found the way to the venue. An ice hockey arena which
was prepared for this darts event. A huge stage with a wall coloured
in yellow and green because these are the city of The Hague colours |
| Saturday Afternoon 17th May: |
No |
Group |
|
|
Match |
|
|
4 |
C |
Mervyn King |
27.55 |
4 – 6 |
Steve Duke |
28.12 |
5 |
C |
Tony West |
29.00 |
3 – 6 |
Brian Derbyshire |
29.95 |
10 |
F |
Tony Eccles |
27.99 |
6 – 3 |
Colin Monk |
27.03 |
2 |
B |
Andy Fordham |
28.90 |
6 – 0 |
Jan van der Rassel |
25.26 |
3 |
B |
John Snijers |
27.99 |
3 – 6 |
Darryl Fitton |
30.99 |
6 |
D |
Tony O’Shea |
29.71 |
6 – 4 |
Shaun Greatbatch |
28.75 |
7 |
D |
Peter Hunt |
30.44 |
5 – 6 |
Vincent vd Voort |
28.70 |
8 |
E |
Martin Adams |
27.33 |
6 – 0 |
Albertino Essers |
21.29 |
9 |
E |
Robert Wagner |
28.01 |
6 – 1 |
James Wade |
25.62 |
| Match 1: Group C Mervyn King (Eng) - Steve Duke (Aus): 4 -
6 |
King with a millimetre-shaved head started the match with losing
his advantage. Duke who already arrived in The Hague on Tuesday
showed he had overcome the jetlag. He took the lead 2-0 before
King could do something back by taking the third leg with a 101
finish. In the fifth leg again King lost a leg with the darts.
From then on the gap always remand on 2 legs. King has to do
a lot of catch up to qualify for the 2nd round.
Stats:
Averages: King: 27.55, Duke: 28.12 180’s: King: 2, Duke:
1 |
 |
Match 2: Group C Brian Derbyshire - Tony West: 6 - 3
An all-English encounter. Derbyshire stormed into a 3-0 lead
by breaking West in the second leg with a 108 finish. Derbyshire
eventually won the match 6-3 because of his good finishing.
Stats: Derbyshire: Averages: Derbyshire: 29.95, West: 29.00 180’s:
Derbyshire: 0, West: 2
Match 3: Group F Tony Eccles - Colin Monk: 6 - 3
Number 6 seed Tony Eccles made a good start by winning his match
against fellow countryman Colin Monk. In perhaps one of the toughest
groups this match went with the darts until the 6th leg. It was
Eccles who first managed to break the advantage of his opponent.
That was the deciding break in the match. Eccles then kept his
own legs to finish the match at 6-3.
Stats: Averages: Eccles: 27.99, Monk: 27.03 180’s: Eccles: 2,
Monk: 3
Match 4: Group B Andy Fordham (Eng) - Jan van der Rassel (Neth):
6 - 0
A rematch for last years World Darts Trophy encounter between
the two. Fordham always in great form in big tournaments whitewashed
his Dutch opponent. Van der Rassel had 9 darts on the double
in only 2 legs but did not manage to throw one.
Stats: Averages: Fordham: 28.90, vd Rassel: 25.26 180’s: Fordham:
0, vd Rassel: 0
Match 5: Group B John Snijers (Bel) - Les Fitton (Eng): 3 - 6
Belgium’s John Snijers entered the stage accompanied by a typical
Dutch song. Not possible to translate it, but its about someone
who knows how good he is! In the first three legs Snijers showed
that his performance at first round’s World Darts Trophy’s match
against Mervyn King was not coincidence and took the lead 3-0.
Fitton had to settle himself and after he managed to do that,
he did not allow Snijers another go for a double. In 15, 14,
15, 15 darts he took the lead. Amongst the four legs a 120 finish.
Stats: Averages: Snijers: 27.99, Fitton: 30.99 180’s: Snijers:
0, Fitton: 3
Match 6: Group D Tony O’Shea (Eng) - Shaun Greatbatch: 6 - 4
Two top class players in a very tight match. Until the 8th leg
players did not have a changes to finish in the legs they did
not start. At 4-3, O’Shea had the first opportunity to break
and only needed one chance. That was a crucial moment in the
match. Greatbatch came back to 4-5 but in the leg he had to throw
to stay in the match again, he saw O’Shea finish 76 to win the
match.
Stats: Averages: O’Shea: 29.71, Greatbatch: 28.75 180’s: O’Shea:
2, Greatbatch: 0
Match 7: Group D Peter Hunt (NZ) - Vincent van der Voort (Neth):
5 - 6
Hunt started the match. And 5 legs went with the darts. On 3-2
for Hunt he missed four darts on the double to break and extend
his lead, but vd Voort came away with it. Now it was vd Voort
who was allowed to break and he did not miss. He could not keep
that advantage and saw the New Zealander level the match again.
On 5 all, it was the Dutchman who was allowed to start the final
leg. On 161 and his opponent on 101 he took a risk by not going
for the treble 17, to go for the finish. He hit a 25 and 20.
Afterwards he said that he thought Hunt would not finish the
101 and he wanted to leave himself a double for the next try.
Hunt did not finish the leg and vd Voort did eventually.
Stats: Averages: Hunt: 30.44, vd Voort: 28.70 180’s: Hunt: 3,
vd Voort: 2
Match 8: Group E Albertino Essers (Neth) - Martin Adams (Eng):
0 - 6
Albertino Essers did not show any of his abilities in his match
against England’s Captain Martin Adams. Essers’ nickname is “the
sensation”, but in his first match in this tournament he didn’t
find his rhythm. Adams had an easy match and did not have any
problems to overcome his opponent. In 6 legs only 5 hits of 100
or more, Essers was very disappointed with his performance. A
63 average is not enough to win matches in this tournament.
Stats: Averages: Essers: 21.29, Adams: 27.33 180’s: Essers: 1,
Adams: 0
Match 9: Group E Robert Wagner (Nor) - James Wade (Eng); 6 -
1
After the first match in this group, already a vital match for
both players. Wagner and Wade who both made their debut in the
Embassy last January. Wade lost in the first round and Wagner
“the artist” became a popular player because of his performance
after the first match! He was the crowd’s favourite. The Austrian’s
born, now living in Norway, Wagner took the first match by 6-1
and meeting Essers and Adams in the next two matches is favourite
to reach the next round.
Stats: Averages: Wagner: 28.01, Wade: 25.62 180’s: Wagner: 1,
Wade: 3 |
| Saturday Evening 17th May: |
No |
Group |
|
|
Match |
|
|
15 |
H |
Ted Hankey |
28.57 |
4 – 6 |
Matt Clark |
29.93 |
11 |
A |
Ray v Barneveld |
30.37 |
6 – 4 |
Co Stompé |
29.23 |
12 |
F |
Jarkko Komula |
30.20 |
6 – 4 |
Ritchie Davies |
29.38 |
13 |
G |
Tony David |
28.21 |
6 – 2 |
Andy Smith |
28.25 |
14 |
G |
Gary Robson |
22.19 |
4 – 6 |
Erik Clarys |
23.94 |
20 |
C |
Mervyn King |
27.73 |
6 – 0 |
Tony West |
25.56 |
16 |
H |
Brian Sørensen |
30.01 |
3 – 6 |
John Walton |
29.42 |
1 |
A |
Rick Hofstra |
26.34 |
6 – 3 |
Bob Taylor |
25.76 |
18 |
B |
Andy Fordham |
29.67 |
6 – 5 |
John Snijers |
27.96 |
19 |
B |
Jan vd Rassel |
25.18 |
2 – 6 |
Darryl Fitton |
28.70 |
The evening session of day one of the IDL
tournament.
|
All the
seats on the floor were sold out (1250) and many seats on the
tribune
also. They all came for the Dutch clash between
Co Stompé and Raymond van Barneveld. Primetime, live on
Dutch TV. Co the current Dutch ranking leader and Van Barneveld,
who had won all the Dutch Ranking tournaments he appeared in,
never met before in a tournament like this.
Match 10: Group H Ted Hankey (Eng) – Matt Clark (Eng): 4 – 6
Stats: Averages: Hankey: 28.57, Clark: 29.93 180’s: Hankey: 1,
Clark: 1
Match 11: Group A Co Stompé (Neth) –
Raymond van Barneveld (Neth): 4 – 6
Stats: Averages: Stompé: 29.23, van Barneveld: 30.37 180’s:
Stompé: 2, van Barneveld: 2
Match 12: Group F Jarkko Komula (Fin) – Ritchie Davies (Wal):
6 – 4
Stats: Averages: Komula: 30.20, Davies: 29.38 180’s: Komula:0,
Davies:0
Match 13: Group G Andy Smith (Eng) – Tony David (Aus): 2 – 6
Stats: Averages: Smith: 28.25, David: 28.21 180’s: Smith: 0,
David: 1
Match 14: Group G Gary Robson – Erik Clarys: 4 – 6
Stats: Averages: Robson: 22.19, Clarys: 23.94 180’s: Robson:
0, Clarys: 2
Match 15: Group C Tony West – Mervyn King: 0 – 6
King recovered from his first match defeat against Duke, showed
his abilities in this second match of the day for him. A complete
whitewash with finishes above 100 for him. For last years Winmau
World Masters semi finalist West, the tournament is almost
over.
Stats: Averages: West: 25.56, King: 27.33 180’s: West: 0, King:
2
Match 16: Group H Brian Sørensen (Den)
– John Walton (Eng): 3 - 6
Danish “Brice” against British “Boy”. After the sensational
first match in the group, took the lead. After 6 legs the match
was on 3 legs all and the 3-dart averages of Sørensen
was around 100! His sharpness on the doubles disappeared and
he saw Walton professionally finish the match.
Stats: Averages: Sørensen: 30.01, Walton: 29.42 180’s:
Sørensen: 2, Walton: 1
Match 17: Group A Bob Taylor – Rick Hofstra: 3 – 6
Wildcard qualifier Rick Hofstra. 26 year-old Dutch player who
already played international matches for the Netherlands. The
final match score would be the biggest sensation of the tournament
so far. On 5-1 up The Fries player from the Netherlands who
can speak a dialect a normal Dutch cannot understand already
had darts for the match. Taylor did not show anything of his
regular standard. Perhaps due to the absence of his Swedish
fiancé Carina Ekberg? Hofstra went on throwing trebles
but mist 5 darts for the victory 6-1. Next leg again he missed
3 darts on double top. The “Bear” found his rhythm and came
back another leg. The final result although would be 3-6 due
to the highest checkout of the tournament so far by Hofstra.
He hit a 135 by double bull, T15 Double tops. In the other
two matches he will meet his fellow countrymen Stompé and
van Barneveld who he had played so many times before. Taylor
said perhaps he had been practising too much lately.
Stats: Averages: Taylor: 25.76, Hofstra: 26.34 180’s: Taylor:
1, Hofstra: 0
Match 18: Group B John Snijers – Andy Fordham: 6 – 5
Fordham was on his way for another whitewash in his second
match of the tournament, but on 4-0 down Belgium’s “Black Beauty”
came back strongly to level the match on 5-5. On 5-4 in the
10th leg Fordham was on 41 left. On such a score he normally
goes for 1 followed by tops. Not this time! He went for 9 and
missed two darts on double 16. Snijers finished from 66 and
won the throw for the bull to start the final leg. Big scores
and a finish from 94 gave him the victory in what was the biggest
turnaround of a match until then.
Stats: Averages: Snijers: 27.96, Fordham: 29.67 180’s: Snijers:
0, Fordham: 2
Match 19: Group B Darryl Fitton – Jan van der Rassel: 6 – 2
On 5-1 Fitton missed the 7th dart (T19) for a perfect nine-dart
leg!
Stats: Averages: Fitton: 28.70, vd Rassel: 25.18 180’s: Fitton:
4, vd Rassel: 0
More details of the matches from where there is no report,
later on.
|
| Sunday afternoon 18th May: |
| No |
Group |
Match: |
| 21 |
C |
Steve Duke |
27.85 |
4
– 6 |
Brian Derbyshire |
27.83 |
| 28 |
G |
Tony David |
30.65 |
6
– 4 |
Gary Robson |
27.14 |
| 26 |
F |
Tony Eccles |
28.21 |
4
– 6 |
Jarkko Komula |
29.47 |
| 27 |
F |
Colin Monk |
28.34 |
3
– 6 |
Ritchie Davies |
30.01 |
| 22 |
D |
Tony O’Shea |
29.09 |
6
– 1 |
Peter Hunt |
26.87 |
| 23 |
D |
Shaun Greatbatch |
26.68 |
6
– 3 |
Vincent vd Voort |
24.92 |
| 24 |
E |
Martin Adams |
27.66 |
5
– 6 |
Robert Wagner |
30.11 |
| 25 |
E |
Albertino Essers |
27.66 |
3
– 6 |
James Wade |
29.07 |
| 29 |
G |
Andy Smith |
31.07 |
6
– 2 |
Erik Clarys |
26.28 |
No |
Group |
Match: |
31 |
H |
Ted
Hankey |
32.88 |
6
– 5 |
Brian
Sørensen |
29.60 |
30 |
A |
Ray
v Barneveld |
32.95 |
6
– 1 |
Rick
Hofstra |
26.48 |
32 |
H |
Matt
Clark |
28.41 |
6
– 3 |
John
Walton |
30.31 |
17 |
A |
Co
Stompé |
28.65 |
6
– 1 |
Bob
Taylor |
25.03 |
36 |
C |
Mervyn
King |
29.20 |
6
– 1 |
Brian
Derbyshire |
23.77 |
37 |
C |
Steve
Duke |
28.65 |
6
– 3 |
Tony
West |
28.05 |
39 |
D |
Shaun
Greatbatch |
26.45 |
4
– 6 |
Peter
Hunt |
29.12 |
38 |
D |
Tony
O’Shea |
29.00 |
6
– 5 |
Vincent
vd Voort |
28.72 |
34 |
B |
Andy
Fordham |
35.32 |
6
– 2 |
Darryl
Fitton |
34.11 |
35 |
B |
Jan
vd Rassel |
25.97 |
1
– 6 |
John
Snijers |
25.97 |
No |
Group |
Match: |
47 |
H |
Ted Hankey |
30.39 |
6
– 4 |
John Walton |
28.76 |
40 |
A |
Ray v Barneveld |
35.22 |
6
– 1 |
Bob Taylor |
29.15 |
41 |
E |
Martin Adams |
28.84 |
6
– 2 |
James Wade |
26.25 |
42 |
E |
Albertino Essers |
28.66 |
6
– 5 |
Robert Wagner |
28.80 |
33 |
A |
Co
Stompé |
27.87 |
6
– 4 |
Rick Hofstra |
28.07 |
44 |
F |
Colin Monk |
28.34 |
3
– 6 |
Jarkko Komula |
31.01 |
43 |
F |
Tony Eccles |
26.83 |
5
– 6 |
Ritchie Davies |
29.06 |
46 |
G |
Andy Smith |
26.77 |
4
– 6 |
Gary Robson |
27.40 |
45 |
G |
Tony David |
30.85 |
6
- 1 |
Erik Clarys |
26.05 |
48 |
H |
Matt Clark |
25.98 |
3
– 6 |
Brian
Sørensen |
26.39 |
| RESULTS: SECOND ROUND ROBIN (Best of 13 Legs) |
| The top two players in each group progress to quarter-finals
knockout stage (Best Of 7 Sets). |
GROUP I:
STEVE DUKE 7-4 DARRYL FITTON
RAYMOND BARNEVELD 7-6 SHAUN GREATBATCH
SHAUN GREATBATCH 7-5 DARRYL FITTON
RAYMOND BARNEVELD 7-2 STEVE DUKE
SHAUN GREATBATCH 7-6 STEVE DUKE
RAYMOND BARNEVELD 7-2 DARRYL FITTON
WINNER: RAYMOND BARNEVELD
R/U: SHAUN GREATBATCH |
GROUP J:
MERVYN KING 7-3 ROBERT WAGNER
MATT CLARK 3-7 TONY O’SHEA
ROBERT WAGNER 1-7 TONY O’SHEA
MERVYN KING 7-4 MATT CLARK
MERVYN KING 5-7 TONY O’SHEA
ROBERT WAGNER 7-3 MATT CLARK
WINNER: TONY O’SHEA
R/U: MERVYN KING
|
GROUP K:
TONY DAVID 7-5 JARKKO KOMULA
RICK HOFSTRA 6-7 ANDY FORDHAM
TONY DAVID 7-5 RICK HOFSTRA
JARKKO KOMULA 6-7 ANDY FORDHAM
TONY DAVID 4-7 ANDY FORDHAM
JARKKO KOMULA 7-3 RICK HOFSTRA
WINNER: ANDY FORDHAM
R/U: TONY DAVID
|
GROUP L:
RITCHIE DAVIES 4-7 MARTIN ADAMS
TED HANKEY 7-3 GARY ROBSON
TED HANKEY 7-0 RITCHIE DAVIES
GARY ROBSON 4-7 MARTIN ADAMS
TED HANKEY 7-6 MARTIN ADAMS
GARY ROBSON 2-7 RITCHIE DAVIES
WINNER: TED HANKEY
R/U: MARTIN ADAMS
|
QUARTER-FINALS: FRIDAY, MAY 23RD |
| Best Of 7 Sets X 5 Legs Per Set |
| RAYMOND BARNEVELD (NED) v TONY DAVID (AUS)
TONY O’SHEA (ENG) v MARTIN ADAMS (ENG)
ANDY FORDHAM (ENG) v SHAUN GREATBATCH (ENG)
TED HANKEY (ENG) v MERVYN KING (ENG)
|
 |
The quality of the field is epitomised by the match
between three times and reigning World Professional Darts Champion
(1998/1999 and 2003) Raymond Barneveld and 2002 World Champion
Tony David. |
| This pairing between the best in The Netherlands and the best
in Australia, guarantees that the first International Darts League
will have an England player in the final on Sunday. |
 |
| The remaining three Quarter-Final matches are all England affairs,
with another former World Champion, Ted Hankey (2000) playing
2003 World Championship Semi-Finalist Mervyn King. |
| The ever-popular Andy ‘The Viking’ Fordham, a huge favourite
with Dutch darts fans, takes on Shaun Greatbatch, the only player
to score a 9-Dart 501 live on TV in last year’s Dutch Open.
England captain Martin Adams, another huge crowd favourite
will play the ever-consistent Tony O’Shea, who has yet to lose
a match in IDL 2003.
Indeed, at this stage only he and Raymond Barneveld have 100
per cent unbeaten match records in IDL 2003.
The overall averages have been excellent. In the Second Round
Robin match between Andy Fordham and Tony David, Andy won the
match 7-4 with an average of 33.28, while Tony recorded a 32.53
average!
Raymond Barneveld, who has not recorded a less than 30 average
in the World Professional Darts Championship since 1996, has
maintained his incredible scoring consistency through this
first International Darts League. Incredibly he has not recorded
a less than 30 average in the tournament so far!
His outstanding averages are: 32.33, 30.53, 30.02, 30.37,
32.95 and 35.22 in his match with Bob Taylor (Scotland).
However, the top average of the International Darts League
over the two Round Robin stages belongs to England’s Andy ‘The
Viking’ Fordham, who recorded an incredible 35.32 in his match
with his fellow countryman Darryl Fitton, who himself recorded
34.11 in the same match!
The highest checkout after the two Round Robin stages is 160,
scored by both Robert Wagner (Norway) and Tony Eccles (England)
in the first Round Robin stage.
Darryl Fitton (England) has recorded a 152 and Shaun Greatbatch
(England) a 150.
Both Andy Fordham (England) and Raymond Barneveld (NETH) have
hit 136 checkouts.
There have been 70 checkouts of 100 plus in the IDL after
the Second Round Robin stage has been completed.
|
| RAYMOND BARNEVELD (NED) 4-0 TONY DAVID (AUS)
TONY O’SHEA (ENG) 0-4 MARTIN ADAMS (ENG)
ANDY FORDHAM (ENG) 4-0 SHAUN GREATBATCH (ENG)
TED HANKEY (ENG) 3-4 MERVYN KING (ENG)
|
| The long awaited match between two of England’s finest was
an epic encounter of high drama and high scoring. |
 |
When ‘The Count’ met ‘The King’ it was the mouth-watering
match that everyone had predicted – and quite a roller coaster
for The King of Darts!
Having lost the first set 0-3, Mervyn then rattled off the
next three sets 3-2, 3-2 and 3-1, before losing the next two
2-3, 2-3 and then clinching it in the 7th set by 3-1. |
| It was a
truly exciting match that produced outstanding standards from
two of the most popular players on the darts circuit. King
recorded an average of 33.41, with Hankey turning in 31.79 for
good measure! There were 18 maximums in the game: 10 to Hankey
and 8 to King. It was the perfect start to a Quarter-Final line-up
that
has attracted huge audiences and excellent viewing figures
for SBS-6. |
The clash of the World Champions:
Flying Dutchman Raymond Barneveld,
triple and reigning World Professional Darts Champion (1998/1999
and 2003), and Australian No.1 Tony David, the first Australian
to win the World Championship in 2002, produced a 4-0 whitewash
by the No.1 Seed and undisputed No.1 in Dutch darts.
The awesome Barney is now unbeaten over 7 matches in IDL 2003 and
once again he produced a 30 plus average. He has not gone under
a 30 average in the entire tournament, and in this match he recorded
32.34. |
 |
 |
The final
score might look one-sided on paper, but this was another brilliant
match contested by two of the greatest players
in World Darts. The set scores were 3-1, 3-1, 3-2 and 3-2, with
Tony David registering a very creditable 31.74 average.
There were 6 maximums from Raymond and 2 from Tony. |
 |
Andy Fordham went marching towards tomorrow’s Semi-Finals with
a very convincing 4-0 victory over his England colleague Shaun
Greatbatch.
The Viking was too strong from Shaun from the outset, winning
the opening set 3-0. He then went on to victory with set scores
of 3-1, 3-0, 3-2 and 3-0 – much to the delight of the very
vocal Dutch crowd. |
Andy is their darling and recorded another 30 plus average
of 30.73, hitting 3 maximums along the way. Shaun hit a further
2.
The last match of the Quarter Finals saw England Captain Martin
Adams ending the 100 per cent match winning record of Tony
O’Shea with a crushing 4-0 victory. |
 |
Wolfie was in awesome form and took the match with
set scores of 3-2, 3-0, 3-1 and 3-1. However, the match was level
as far as the averages were concerned with both players recording
30.05.
Martin his 5 maximums, while Tony had 2, bringing the total
to 38 maximums in the four matches played. |
| SEMI-FINAL: SATURDAY, MAY 24TH (BEST OF 11 SETS) |
| Andy Fordham (ENG) will play Mervyn King (ENG) in an all-England
clash, while Raymond Barneveld (NETH) meets martin adams (ENG). |
| MERVYN KING 6-5 ANDY FORDHAM |
 |
When The King meets The Viking you can guarantee a battle Royal
in darts terms, and this was no exception! As soon as the two
England teammates and huge crowd favourites took to the stage,
King showed his intentions with a wonderful 141 checkout in the
very first leg! It was the start of an impressive King charge
that saw him race to a 4-1 lead by the interval. |
However, it was The Viking who returned the more refreshed
after the short break, and after King missed 4 darts for victory,
Andy staged a typical fighting comeback to get the crowd up on
their feet as he reduced the set score to
5-3.
This was a match destined to go all the way
and so it proved. Both players produced brilliant darts
to get the set scores
to 5-5, but in the end it was The King who prevailed over
the valiant Viking, winning the 11th and final Set by
3-1 for a 6-5 victory.
It was a thrilling Semi-Final that had the crowd
on their feet and was worthy of two of the greatest players
(and characters)
in World Darts today – as well as being a triumph for the
very first International Darts League.
As ever in this tournament the averages
were again 30 plus, with Mervyn King recording 31.89 and Andy
Fordham 31.66.
Class. Pure class from start to finish! |
| RAYMOND BARNEVELD 6-4 MARTIN ADAMS |
 |
This is the match that the packed Dutch crowd and live TV audience
had been waiting for: Barney meets Wolfie – reigning and triple
World Professional Darts Champion Raymond Barneveld against England
Captain and Lakeside favourite Martin Adams. |
They
had something special to follow after King v Fordham, but Raymond,
like Mervyn, let his intentions be clearly known
at the outset as he took the opening set by 3-1. Everyone thought
Barney was in for a barnstormer, but he was suddenly de-railed
by a rampant Adams, who won the next 7 legs without reply to
go 2-1 up in sets.
However, like the true Champion he is, Raymond
- roared on by the colourful and very vocal crowd - squared the
match at
2-2 to regain his status as the true hero of Dutch darts.
Indeed, he went on to win the match 6-4 and once again, for
the 8th IDL match in succession, recorded a 30 plus average.
This consistency is a continuation of his scoring record in
the World Professional Darts Championships, in which he has
recorded 30 plus averages every year since 1996!
His average in the Semi-Final was 30.87, with Martin Adams
close behind on 30.49 – a true indication of another great
and closely fought match.
Raymond Barneveld now marches on to tomorrow’s final with
England’s Mervyn King. It will be a repeat of the World Championship
Semi-Final at Lakeside in January, on which occasion Raymond
prevailed 5-2.
He will be looking to emulate that performance in the inaugural
IDL final being played on his home territory in front of a
packed audience and multi-million TV audiences. However, Mervyn
King will be out for revenge and all the signs are that this
is going to be an epic final. |
| THE FINAL: SUNDAY, MAY 25TH, 2003 |
Prize Money: WINNER:30,000 EURO
R/UP:15,000 EURO |
| RAYMOND BARNEVELD (NETH) 8 v MERVYN KING (ENGLAND) 5 |
 |
The final was the 79th match to be played in International
Darts League and there was little doubt that Raymond Barneveld’s
determination was the greatest as he raced to a 2-0 lead in sets
with some superlative darts that included 11 and 12 dart legs.
(Left -Tony David & Natalie
Carter watching the final)
He then stretched his lead to 4-0 before Mervyn King won his
first set of the Final to go into the interval 4-1 down. |
At this point the averages were: Barneveld 32.58 with 8 maximums
and King 32.51 with 4 maximums. The standards were superb. This
was darts of the highest calibre from two of the finest players
in world darts.
After the break, King won a closely fought 6th set to narrow
the lead to 4-2, but like the true triple World Champion he
is, Barneveld hit back with two sets in succession to go 6-2
up in sets. |
 |
| But King put up a brave battle to get just two sets behind
at 7-5 in this exciting and highly competitive final. However,
Raymond proved too strong, as he emerged victorious with a set
score of 8-5. |
 |
It meant that in this first ever International Darts League
in The Hague – where Barneveld was once a postman – the No.1
player in Dutch darts had achieved his dream and destiny of becoming
the first ever IDL Champion.
His delight was obvious as he received the IDL Trophy and
a cheque for 30,000 Euros from the Head of Sport in The Hague.
This was a magical final at the end of a truly magical week
of world-class darts. |
Barneveld proved his invincibility by emerging from the two
Round Robin stages (6 matches) without defeat and fittingly was
the only unbeaten player in the entire field of 32 top International
players.
In total he played a marathon 9 matches, and to underline
his superiority, he did so without once recording an average
of less than 30 plus – something that he has done in every
World Professional Darts Championship at Lakeside since 1996!
Dutch pride and Dutch darts passion were satisfied with this
great victory, but all the players who took part are to be
congratulated on making this inaugural International Darts
League a truly great and memorable event.
It will be back in 2004 as a permanent fixture on the BDO/WDF
darts calendar of televised ‘majors’ and now everyone is looking
forward to September and the second staging of World Darts
Trophy in Utrecht. |
What price Raymond Barneveld for the Dutch Grand Slam of 2003
World Professional Darts Championship, 2003 International Darts
League and 2003 World Darts Trophy?
Does World Darts get any better than this?? |
 |
| Many thanks to Hans Senders IDL/WDT and Robert Holmes BDO for
the reports above |
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