Barney makes Embassy final

Raymond van Barneveld was back to brilliant best tonight as he clinched a place in the final of the Embassy World Championship with a 5-2 win over Mervyn King at Frimley Green.

The world number two was crowned champion in 1998 and 1999, but he has been a frustrated spectator as Ted Hankey, John Walton and Tony David have since held aloft the coveted trophy.

However, Dutchman van Barneveld proved too strong for King – who defeated him 12 months ago – and will face Wales’ Ritchie Davies in tomorrow’s showpiece final at the Lakeside Country Club.

The first four legs of the first set were of the highest quality and, predictably, it went to a decider.

King had the throw but van Barneveld scored heavily before nailing double eight to take the opening set.

The 35-year-old, whose three-dart average after that first set was 108.04, opened the second with a 110 checkout before reeling off the next two to open up a two-set lead.

The first leg of the third was one of best ever seen in the tournament’s 26-year history. Both players hit two maximums to put themselves within sight of the magical nine-dart finish.

King missed treble 20 and van Barneveld failed when he missed treble 19 with his eighth dart. However, Barney still nailed double 16 for a 10-darter.

Two more 12-dart legs clinched the set for van Barneveld, but King fought back in the fourth set and moved 2-1 ahead with a successful attempt at double 16.

Both players missed shots at doubles, but King is a gutsy player and he held his nerve to claim the last set before the break 3-1.

The pace of the game slowed after the interval and King capitalised to pull a set back.

With the score locked at 2-2, King flighted his dart in to the double eight bed to make it 3-2 in sets.

Van Barneveld replied with a successful attempt at double 20 before King levelled with a 13-dart leg.

The two players could not be separated after the next two legs until van Barneveld stepped in with a double eight finish to move within one set of victory.

King was unsettled by something and had to compose himself before the seventh set got under way.

Van Barneveld simply grew in confidence and won the next three legs, including a 161 checkout, to close out the match.

He will meet Wales’ Ritchie Davies in the final.

Davies booked his place in the final of the Embassy World Championship in Frimley Green with an impressive 5-2 win over Gary Anderson.