Photo courtesy of Henk Westerdaal/BMAP

PHIL TAYLOR defeated Raymond van Barneveld 8-3 to win the RTL7 International Masters final on Monday night, creating a further slice of history in the process of claiming another televised victory.

Taylor left his Dutch rival floundering with a sensational performance to win the €20,00 first prize, with his three-dart average of 113.60 being the highest ever in a televised final.

He hit only one winning leg over 14 darts in the decider, having come from 3-2 down to defeat Gary Anderson 8-4 in the semi-finals earlier in the night at the Hotel Zuiderduin in Egmond aan Zee.

The win saw Taylor complete a dominant weekend in the inaugural tournament, having overcome Terry Jenkins and Adrian Lewis to win his group, defeated James Wade 8-3 in the quarter-finals and Anderson in the semis.

He saved his best display for the final, though, as he relentlessly outscored van Barneveld, who stepped in to win the opening leg after a miss from Taylor by finishing 80 in two darts.

Taylor hit a pair of 11-darters and broke in 14 darts to win the next hree legs and take command, before van Barneveld shaded the fifth to pull back to 3-2.

The Dutchman gave himself the chance to level in the sixth, but missed two darts at double 19 for a 98 finish, which was punished as Taylor took out 68 in two darts.

He then hit his fourth and fifth 180s of the final in back-to-back 13-dart legs in moving 6-2 up, before missing the bull for a 167 finish as van Barneveld landed double 17 to hit back.

Taylor, though, replied with another 11-darter, and hit a seventh 180 and double 18 to wrap up the victory in 13 darts.

“I’m delighted to have won,” said Taylor. “To play Raymond in a final in Holland’s a huge honour and I enjoyed it because he brings the best out of me.

“Since I returned to using the darts I did so well with last year I’ve been really pleased with my form and it showed again here.

“The key leg was the sixth when Raymond missed two darts to take out 98, and after that I dug in and got the job done. I’ve really enjoyed the tournament and it’s a great way to finish.”

Van Barneveld had won through to the final with a brilliant 8-2 win over Vincent van der Voort in their all-Dutch semi-final, averaging almost 102 in the process.

He won the opening four legs and also hit seven 180s in the victory, and took home €12,000 as runner-up to Taylor – his seventh successive defeat to the Stoke legend in a final since claiming the 2007 World Championship title.

Van der Voort and Anderson earned €8,000 for reaching the semi-finals of the tournament, shown live on Dutch TV channel RTL7 and played in front of a sold-out crowd at the Hotel Zuiderduin.

Highlights of the RTL7 International Masters will be available worldwide for PDCtv subscribers following the conclusion of the tournament.

RTL7 International Masters
Monday March 21
Semi-Finals
Vincent van der Voort 2-8 Raymond van Barneveld
Phil Taylor 8-4 Gary Anderson

Final
Raymond van Barneveld 3-8 Phil Taylor