Darts Review of 2007

The year in picturesTwo thousand and seven has been a year of great upheaval in the world of darts with Raymond van Barneveld leading the threat to Phil Taylor's domination of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC).

Taylor relatively indifferent year has paved the way for 'Barney' and a new generation of darting talents to emerge and stake their claims for the future.

World Championship

Four-time British Darts Organisation (BDO) world champion Van Barneveld crossed the divide to join the PDC's elite in February 2006.

And in his first World Championship he produced an unbelievable display of dartistry to beat 13-time world champion Phil 'The Power' Taylor in the most epic final of all time.

Both darting demigods had demonstrated imperious form throughout the tournament, dropping just five sets between them in the run up to the final, before producing a fitting farewell for the Circus Tavern.

In the end it was 'Barney' who reigned supreme after staging an unbelievable comeback to edge a 7-6 thriller, which climaxed with a final leg shoot-out.

Van 'The Man' threw 21 maximums en route to victory after losing the first three sets and deservedly claimed his place atop the darting world.

Masters of Darts

The Dutch supremo reinforced his growing reputation with a 7-0 whitewash of England's group winner Peter 'One Dart' Manley in the Masters of Darts final.

Dutch wonderkid 'Mighty Mike' Michael van Gerwen had earlier announced his arrival to the PDC with victory over a shaken Taylor, who fell at the tournament's first hurdle, and a nine-darter in his semi-final defeat to 'Barney'.

Premier League

'The Power' did bounce back with victory in the Premier League though with a 16-6 win over Van Barneveld's conqueror Terry 'The Bull' Jenkins in the final.

Success saw Taylor extend his incredible unbeaten record in the tournament to 44 matches, recording successive victories over 'Barney' in the process.

UK Open

Taylor took his rejuvenated form into the UK Open, hitting his fifth televised nine-darter en route to the quarter-finals, before his nemesis struck again to inflict an emphatic 11-4 defeat.

And Van Barneveld went on to defend his title with a 16-8 win over compatriot 'Greased Lightning' Vincent van der Voort in the final.

Las Vegas Darts Desert Classic

Mark 'Flash' Dudbridge knocked three-time champion Taylor out of the Las Vegas Desert Classic's first round in July and Van Barneveld went on to claim his third major title of 2007.

Jenkins was again the Dutchman's victim in the final, beaten comprehensively 13-6 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.

World Matchplay

'009' James Wade has moved from 11th to number three in the world rankings this year thanks firstly to an 18-7 victory over Jenkins in the World Matchplay final - his first major PDC title.

Adrian 'Jackpot' Lewis had got rid of 'Barney' in the quarter-finals and Taylor was beaten by Jenkins in the last four as things went from bad to worse for the top two.

SkyBet World Grand Prix

Wade cemented his spot as the biggest rival to the top seeds with Jenkins again the unfortunate runner-up at the SkyBet World Grand Prix.

The man named 2006's Young Player of the Year produced a scintillating display to beat 'Barney' en route to the final while Taylor fell at the first hurdle again, in only his third defeat in the 10-year history of the event, to 'ThreeStyler'Adrian Gray.

Grand Slam of Darts

But 'The Power' warmed up for his assault on Barney's world championship with success at November's inaugural Grand Slam of Darts.

Jenkins ended 'Barney's' hopes in the second round stage, leaving Taylor free to go on and beat Andy 'The Hammer' Hamilton 18-11 in the final and remind the doubters of his ability on the big occasion.