Mark Webster grabbed third place at the World Championship with a 10-8 win over fellow beaten semi-finalist Raymond van Barneveld.
Welshman takes home third place after play-off with Barney
Mark Webster grabbed some consolation at the World Darts Championship as he won his third placed play-off 10-8 against fellow beaten semi-finalist Raymond van Barneveld.
Both men suffered semi-final heartbreak on Saturday, with Barney a narrow loser against Simon Whitlock while Webster was hammered by Phil Taylor.
From the walk-ons it was evident that neither man truly wanted to get up on the big stage again so soon, but they still provided the crowd with a fine match to serve as an appetiser for the following final.
The two mustered just five 180s between them as Welshman Webster edged the averages with just under 94 as opposed to a tired-looking Barney's 90.
There was never more than a leg in it as both men tried their best to produce top form despite the ultimate prize having dropped out of reach the preceding evening
Tiredness
Van Barneveld showed his tiredness as he hit treble 20 to bust his attempted finish of 52 in the 13th leg, allowing Webster to go 7-6 ahead, but the Dutchman hit back to level in the next.
A 118 finish, the highest in the match, gave Barney two legs on the bounce and an 8-7 advantage, but once again that crucial two-leg lead proved unattainable as Webster levelled after two missed doubles from Barney.
Webster stepped up a gear with a 13-darter taking him to the brink of victory at 9-8, and he duly completed the victory in the next to claim third place in h is first visit to Alexandra Palace.
The Welsh left-hander pockets the £60,000 prize for finishing third and also moves up into the top 32 of the PDC Order of Merit for the first time since switching from the BDO.
Van Barneveld goes back to the drawing board and will be hoping to go one better and make the final next year after finishing fourth.
