It is one of THE great rivalries in the world of darts….and Raymond van Barneveld is desperate to set the record straight!
Barney clashes with Phil Taylor in a mouth-watering all Unicorn clash on week three of the Premier League in Belfast.
And the Dutchman is bidding for his first ever win over ‘The Power’ in the history of the Premier League!
“I have come very close,” he said. “Perhaps this is the time! We are both playing well and I know Phil will be very confident after his brilliant 9-darter in Aberdeen, but I am hitting some form too and I have beaten him twice recently on the same Players Championship Pro Tour weekend.”
In 12 meetings between the pair in the Premier League Barney has managed just one draw, but he will have huge support from the 8,000 sell-out crowd in Belfast.
And the way that Barney came back superbly to earn draws against both Adrian Lewis and Simon Whitlock, shows that he is getting back to something like.
Taylor’s amazing 9-darter (his 11th on TV) set Aberdeen alight a week ago in his win over Kevin Painter….and remember, he averaged 112 in that thrilling 7-7 draw with Lewis in week one at Manchester.
This week it has been announced that Taylor will be touring Australia in August and playing in some DPA events as he continues to spread the darting gospel.
On another night of big PL clashes, there will be a repeat of the World Championship Final as Andy Hamilton faces Adrian Lewis.
It was that brilliant performance in reaching the Ally Pally Final, which secured Hamilton his prized PL spot.
He lost 7-3 (in sets) to Lewis but knows he has a point to prove in Northern Ireland – especially after his disappointing defeat to Gary Anderson in Aberdeen, when ‘The Hammer’ missed a stack of doubles.
“It isn’t about revenge,” he said. “I just want to perform how I know I can. I was awful last week and I need to put that right. I know reaching the World Championship Final has opened a lot of doors for me and I want to keep proving my worth. I want to build on what I achieved at the World Championship.”
Elsewhere in Belfast, James Wade is searching for his first win to take him off the bottom of the table…..but he faces another tough all Unicorn showdown against defending champion Gary Anderson.
Anderson himself is struggling for form and consistency…..will this be the week the pair finally step up?
And Team Unicorn ace Kevin Painter will kick the night off…..fresh from his personal appearance at his beloved Ipswich Town last weekend, ‘The Artist’ plays Simon Whitlock.
Painter didn’t do a lot wrong against Taylor in Scotland and for a long time, looked on course to win, until that 9-darter changed the match.
But Painter knows a big win against the Aussie puts him right in contention in this year’s Premier League, which is already turning into the best ever.
Week three Belfast order of play:
Kevin Painter v Simon Whitlock
Andy Hamilton v Adrian Lewis
Gary Anderson v James Wade
Raymond van Barneveld v Phil Taylor
By STUART PYKE
Photo courtesy Lawrence Lustig / PDC