The first Darts at Home game between Raymond van Barneveld and Phil Taylor has just been live streamed with the former claiming the victory.
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Taylor came back and was on the verge of victory early on but Barney produced a mini comeback of his own and akin to the game known by many as the greatest of them all in 2007 at the Circus Tavern, it finished 7-6 to the great Dutchman.
All 180’s went to charity and there were 15 in all with £5,000 from Barney and £10,000 from Taylor.
In terms of averages it was an excellent 119 (RVB) plays 118 (Taylor) with high checkouts of 161 and 151. A real match for the ages.
Van Barneveld started the sharpest winning the first leg with the first 1,000 to charity from a 180 hit by the Dutch legend.
Despite a 180 from Taylor to leave 6, Barney smashed in an excellent 161 to go 2-0 up.
It was a 151 this time from Taylor who smashed in another 180 to get off the mark.
He followed it up with a 134 which saw two bulls and a double 17 to make it 2-2. It was 124 average for Barney and 115 for Taylor at this point.
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A 128 set up shot saw Barney leave 50, Taylor put pressure on but the former took it out straight away.
A 135 was hit again by Taylor to start the next leg and Van Barneveld followed it up with a 140. The former added another £1,000 followed by a 116 checkout to make it parity again.
He added another as he looked to go ahead for the first time. He did with a 113 checkout.
Barney began to struggle and Taylor got stronger leaving 40 after a 121 set up not going for a 164 and he snuck it in the corner.
Three consecutive legs made it 5-3 to ‘The Power’, could Barney fine any way back??
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Barney left 121 but Taylor smashes in two 180’s to leave 56. The former buckled and miscounted allowing Taylor to go 6-3 up.
Barney needed 36 to stay in the match with Taylor pressuring leaving 28. The latter started excellently leaving 141 for the nine darter.
Barney was sat on 56 though and he took advantage to go to within one. Another 180 was hit by the former as he looked for the nine-darter himself.
He left himself 141 but he missed double 12 for it. He went into double six to break and had the darts in the decider.
Could he get the 7-6 win like in 2007 albeit not in legs? He left 86 after nine so Taylor could only pressure with the final 180.
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Barney then finished it expertly on the bull to pull it back and claim the victory.
https://twitter.com/targetdarts/status/1248309723046088706?s=21
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