World Champion Raymond Van Barneveld warmed up for the Desert Classic in style, by taking the first ever Las Vegas Players Championship on the strip.
Top Team Unicorn performers were Ray Carver, Colin Lloyd and Barrie Bates, who all reached the quarter-finals – but Carver was the real star of the show, with his best display at a big PDC event for a long time.
The American left-hander produced some dazzling darts in Vegas, losing a thrilling quarter-final to Mervyn King, which went to the deciding set. Carver had earlier beat Mark Dudbridge, Kevin McDine, Richard Espinosa, Darren Webster and Mark Mulkey.
He won £600 and was unlucky not to beat King in one of the best matches of the day.
The final went all the way to a last leg decider, with Barney beating Terry Jenkins 3 sets to 2, gaining some revenge for the defeat by ‘The Bull’ at the Premier League semi-finals.
Bates lost his quarter-final 3-0 to Jenkins. The Welshman had overcome the likes of Adrian Gray, Wes Newton and Jelle Klaasen. Lloyd was edged out 3-2 by Priestley.
Phil Taylor didn’t play in the event. His Thursday flight to the US was cancelled, so he only flew to Vegas on Sunday, as he bids to regain his Desert Classic crown.
Three Team Unicorn stars got through to the last 16…..Adrian Lewis lost 3-1 to Roland Scholten, Kevin Painter was beaten by Barney and James Wade lost in a last set decider to Jenkins.
Colin Osborne, who beat Dutch duo Michael Van Gerwen and Vincent van der Voort, fell at the last 32 stage – beaten 3-0 by Ronnie Baxter. Defending Vegas Classic Champion John Part lost 3-1 to Mervyn King at the same stage, while Bob Anderson was beaten by Lewis.
In Round Three, Peter Manley lost 3-2 to Adrian Gray and Andy Hamilton lost 3-1 to American Bill Davis. Mick McGowan was a 2nd Round loser to another American – Jim Widmeyer.
Results – 5th Round:
Ray Carver 3-2 Mark Dudbridge
Mervyn King 3-2 Wayne Mardle
Terry Jenkins 3-2 James Wade
Barrie Bates 3-2 Adrian Gray
Raymond Van Barneveld 3-0 Kevin Painter
Roland Scholten 3-1 Adrian Lewis
Dennis Priestley 3-0 Bill Davis
Colin Lloyd 3-1 Ronnie Baxter
Losers - £300
Quarter-finals:
Mervyn King 3-2 Ray Carver
Terry Jenkins 3-0 Barrie Bates
Raymond Van Barneveld 3-0 Roland Scholten
Dennis Priestley 3-2 Colin Lloyd
Losers - £600
Semi-finals:
Terry Jenkins 3-0 Mervyn King
Raymond Van Barneveld 3-0 Dennis Priestley
Losers - £1,250
Final:
Raymond Van Barneveld 3-2 Terry Jenkins
Winner - £5,000
Runner-up - £2,500
Several Team Unicorn stars now face two days of qualifying, as they bid to get into the Las Vegas Desert Classic. The main event starts on Wednesday and you can follow all the action on the Unicorn website.
BY STUART PYKE