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PHIL TAYLOR clinched his fifth Las Vegas Desert Classic Title by beating Raymond Van Barneveld in Sunday’s final.

The Englishman recorded a 13-11 win over the Dutchman in a fascinating encounter which could have swung either way, but the experience of `The Power` finally shone through to claim yet another major tournament.

Aswell as winning the title the man from Stoke picked up the cheque for £30,000, and he was clearly delighted with his win, saying after the match:

“It was a strange game and I thought Raymond started off fantastically. I’m over the moon! He didn’t give up and nearly came back at me-hopefully I’ve got many more finals in front of me.”

Barneveld left the stage (to the annoyance of Taylor) and then returned to say:

“I’ve started believing in myself again-it was a great tournament. All credit to Phil-it’s a real privilege to play against you. Three years ago when I joined the PDC they said there’s one player better than you. I didn’t believe it then but I do now. I try and I promise you I’ll be back!”

Both the semi finals and the final were played on the night with Taylor coming up against John Part, and James Wade taking on the 2007 champion.

In the first semi Taylor exploded out of the blocks, nearly recording a nine-darter in the very first leg, only for treble nineteen to elude him before hitting double top to take the leg in ten.

However he had two more bites at the cherry for the perfect leg, only to miss treble 19 again in the second, and then treble 20 was narrowly missed in the fourth.

After four legs the reigning champion was averaging just shy of 120, and he looked set to get close to the World record he set in Aberdeen earlier in the season, ironically against John Part.

The Canadian missed double top to narrow the deficit to 3-2 in the fifth, and Taylor made sure he went into the commercial break three legs better off by hitting that same double.

The man from Stoke-on-Trent arrived at Mandalay Bay at 8a.m to practice for the evening session, and it seemed to have paid dividends with the treble 20 being hit with such constant regularity.

He continued his dominance after the break, rocketing into a 6-1 lead before yet again setting up a nine dart finish, only to miss treble nineteen for the second time to cost him the chance.

Whatever Part did, he couldn’t get anywhere near the man he beat in the 2003 World Final, and his average of 95 was blown away by Taylor’s 112. He was soon 9-1 behind and facing a complete battering.

The second break came around almost too quickly for the Canadian who seemed to be admiring his opponent’s performance rather than improve his own, and as a result it didn’t take Phil long to wrap up the win and prepare for the final, winning 11-1.

He said: “I’m over the moon and absolutely ecstatic to be in the final. Once you get on stage that’s when it counts and its hard work. I’m looking forward to watching the other semi now!”

Wade and Barney took to the stage for their first meeting on TV since the Premier League semi finals in May when the World number two overcame the Dutchman en route to the title.

Barneveld has since been in decent form though and looked up for the battle. Both took their opening legs with the Darts to get off the mark, and Wade then recorded the first maximum of the match in the third.

The game went with throw until the fifth leg when Barneveld took out 156 to go into the break 3-2 up, and he soon went 4-2 up using double eight to secure the advantage.

At this stage Wade was averaging below 90 in contrast to Raymond’s 105 and it seemed the reigning Premier League champion had been slightly shaken after having his throw broken.

His task was made doubly difficult when Barneveld broke for a second time after James had missed two darts at a double in the seventh leg, and then the Dutchman held his own throw to go 6-2 up.

Wade stopped the rot by winning the following leg checking out 81, but failed to break back before the second commercial break and found himself 7-3 behind.

He lost his throw again to go five legs behind, and remained five legs down going into the next commercial break, with Barney needing just one more double to book his place in the final, and he did it against the throw using double 16 to win 11-6.

He said after the match: “It’s all about enjoying it and I’ve relaxed here. There are no bad players anymore and after not getting through to the PL final I’ve had to pick myself up. I’m OK now and I don’t see why I can’t win this tournament now.”

This set up a clash of the titans in the final with Barneveld once again hoping to deny Taylor another tournament win. He didn’t start well though, conceding his throw in the second to give the great man an early three leg advantage.

However, he then won the next three legs (two of which on the bull) to be just one behind at the break, and Barneveld is famously better when he’s chasing a game. Infact he put himself on a nine darter in the seventh only to miss the treble 20, but cleaned up on double 16 to break the throw and go 4-3 ahead.

Both players’ averages were above 108, and the crowd at the Mandalay Bay were in full voice as the two rivals matched each other blow for blow. Ray responded by hitting double two to stretch his lead, and Taylor needed to hit back quickly.

He didn’t waste much time, taking advantage of a missed double by Barneveld, and Taylor went into the break level at 5-5.

He re-gained the lead when Barney missed yet another double, and tops gave the Englishman a one leg advantage.

However Barneveld took the next two legs with a 106 checkout in the process to go 7-6 up and at this point it was anybody’s guess as to who was going to come out on top.

Another break made the score 7-7 before Taylor took the next three legs, and it seemed Barneveld may have wasted his chance. However, there was another twist in the tail as Raymond responded with three legs of his own and the match was back on a knife edge.

The 22nd leg was a classic with both players hitting maximums before Taylor hit double top to go within a leg of the title.

The Dutchman wasn’t finished though and checked out 39 to remain in the game, but Taylor wasn’t to be phased and hit tops to win the title.

Barneveld will be disappointed not to have won after a strong performance, although he does have a tendency to give up too quickly and the crowd in Vegas were disappointed at one stage as he started to waste his throw. However I’ve been impressed with him during the last week and he’s definitely back, and one to watch for Blackpool.

The night and the championship belonged to Taylor though, and his dominance of the game just does not cease to amaze me. It clearly amazes Barneveld too, but I believe he sometimes has too much respect for Taylor and this will need to stop if he’s going to beat him again.

Perhaps he’ll get his chance at Blackpool for the World Matchplay.

Results:

Semi- finals:
Phil Taylor 11-1 John Part
Ray Van Barneveld 11-6 James Wade

Final:
Phil Taylor 13-11 Raymond Barneveld

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