Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld beat Wales to win World Cup for Netherlands
Tuesday 6 June 2017 10:52, UK
Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld beat Wales 3-1 to claim the World Cup of Darts title for a third time.
Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld were made to work hard for victory against Mark Webster and Gerwyn Price with the scores level after the respective singles matches.
However, the Dutch duo were imperious in the doubles game to put them ahead before the experienced Van Barneveld sealed the title for the first time since 2014 by beating Price in the reverse singles game.
The world no 1 was dominant in the opening game of the final to sweep aside Price 4-0 and get the favourites off to the perfect start with the Welshman unable to make an impact, having just two efforts at a double.
Webster levelled in the second rubber against the five-time world champion, running out a 4-1 winner as Barney struggled on his doubles.
Last year's beaten finalists put themselves back in control of the game as they both showed their best form in the pairs play, producing a dominant 4-1 win to put them on the brink of victory.
There was nothing to separate van Barneveld and Price in the reverse singles tie before the Dutchman broke in the fifth leg hitting a vital double five and he completed the job on his throw hitting double four to seal victory.
"If you appear in a tournament you want to win, it is as simple as that," said van Gerwen. "On paper we were the strongest couple but you have to do it. With Scotland out early in the tournament, I said we will play well and no one could beat us, especially in our pairs games we were absolutely fantastic."
Van Barneveld added, "I was struggling in the singles but the pairs was the key thing. I'm extremely happy with this win, it is my third World Cup title. It was an amazing tournament and we are really happy."
England's hopes of retaining their crown ended at the semi-final stage as they lost out to the eventual champions. It was a heavyweight clash between the two pre-tournament favourites with the Dutchmen coming through 2-0 after two tight battles of the highest quality.
Adrian Lewis and Van Gerwen were involved in a pulsating encounter with both players showing some magnificent finishing throughout but it was 'Mighty Mike' who prevailed 4-3 to put the Dutch ahead in the game.
It was then the turn of Dave Chisnall to do battle against Van Barneveld but it was all over for the holders when Chisnall suffered an unfortunate bounce out when going for a 132 checkout and Barney took out 25 for a 4-2 win.
England had survived a major scare in the quarter-final against Austria to set up the tie with the Dutch. Mensur Suljovic had whitewashed an out of sorts Lewis that included a fantastic 170 checkout to put England 1-0 down.
Chisnall dug the holders out of a hole to beat Rowby-John Rodriguez and take it to a doubles decider. The Englishmen produced some fine darts in the decider to get them over the line.
Eventual finalists Wales had ended the run of surprise package Russia in the quarter-final with a 2-0 win. In the semi-final Price and Webster upped their performance levels and were superb in beating 2013 finalists Belgium 2-0.
Price and Kim Huybrechts traded blows in the first contest of the tie with the Welshman coming out on top to give his nation the lead before Webster sealed victory by defeating Ronny Huybrechts 4-2.
The Huybrechts brothers had ended Singapore's magnificent run in the tournament beating them 2-1 in the quarter-final.
Kim Huybrechts was in stunning form as he won 4-1 against Paul Lim, breaking a record his brother Ronny had set a day earlier for the highest average by a Belgium on television as he averaged 121.97 in the game. It was also a new World Cup record average.
Harith Lim beat Ronny Huybrechts to keep Singapore's hopes alive and take it to a doubles decider but the No 8 seeds held their nerve to progress.
The road to the title was not an easy one for the Netherlands as they were made to work to send the home nation Germany out in the last eight.
Van Gerwen came from 2-0 down to beat Martin Schindler 4-2 and quieten the home fans but Van Barneveld was stunned in his game against Max Hopp losing 4-3, taking it to a doubles decider. The Dutch had too much for the Germans in the decider though as they progressed to the semi-final with England.
Quarter-final results
Singapore 1-2 Belgium
Russia 0-2 Wales
England 2-1 Austria
Germany 1-2 Netherlands
Semi-final results
Belgium 0-2 Wales
England 0-2 Netherlands
Final result
Wales 1-3 Netherlands
