Raymond Van Barneveld has overcome three fellow Dutch dartists to become the 2012 Grand Slam of Darts Champion and prove to the world that he is still the the Dutch master. It was the legend, who was without a major win since 2007, against the man bang in form and Grand Prix Champion, Michael Van Gerwen.
The big questions were asked before the match, will Barney succumb to tiredness after his battle earlier in the day against Andy Hamilton and how can stop the train that is Van Gerwen. The answers were provided as Barney finished some legs in absolute style and although Van Gerwen wasn't at his optimum best, there was still not a lot he could do about the rejuvenated Barney.
The first session completely went with throw, but Barney matched Van Gerwen's scoring power with some unbelievable finishing. A 101-checkout put Barneveld 2-1 ahead before a 134-finish meant he could off stage with a 3-2 lead to his name.
Barney then broke the throw in the opening leg of the second session after Van Gerwen missed three darts at the double. That would be the beginning of three straight legs in that session, four overall, to lead 6-2. Van Gerwen wasn't deserving of this four leg deficit and he managed to pull it back to 6-4 after two sessions.
Van Gerwen hit a fabulous 122-checkout to begin the third session but missed four darts at the double to level the match and would end going 9-6 behind after 15-legs. The fourth session went with throw, meaning Van Gerwen won it 3-2, making the score 11-9. The young man would go onto hit his fourth 170-checkout in three games to make it 12-10 before pulling a further leg back.
A 110-checkout in the final leg of that session put Barney within two legs of a crucial victory. That became 15-13 before Van Barneveld missed two match winning darts. Van Gerwen made it 15-14 and was throwing to force a deciding leg. But the veteran held on and broke the Van Gerwen throw and clinch the Grand Slam title.
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