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WDF/BDO DUTCH OPEN 2006
report by Andy Fairclough
The closing stages of the Dutch Open were televised by SBS 6 in the Netherlands. First match to be shown was the Men's Pairs final which featured Martin Adams and Mervyn King vs Tony West and Rick Hofstra. Adams and King showed their dominance from the start taking the first set 3-1. Rick Hofstra played well in the second set but it wasn't enough to stop a 2 sets to 0 victory for Adams/King. The final leg was a remarkable 701 checked out in 13 darts – The sequence : Adams 180, King 180, Adams 140, King 177, Adams D12 to finish. The first men's semi-final featured Vincent van der Voort against Raymond van Barneveld. Van der Voort started well taking the first leg with a 135 checkout but Barneveld playing extremely well quickly turned it around and took the first set. The second set went to 2 legs all, and Barneveld the hit 7 perfect darts of a potential 9 dart game. This was enough to take him to a deserved 2-0 win. Tony Eccles played Gary Anderson in the other semi-final and Eccles took the first two legs before Anderson took 3 in a row to win the set. Eccles went ahead again in the second set and this went to the deciding leg, checked out by "The Viper". Anderson who overall was playing the best then stormed through the deciding set 3-0 to book his place in the final against Barneveld. The Ladies final was played next and in a match which went to sudden death, Anne Kirk beat Trina Gulliver 3-2. In a few encounters I remember Gary Anderson buckling against Raymond van Barneveld but he didn't in this match. Barneveld of course was out to restore his reputation after his Lakeside final defeat. Anderson checked out the second leg with a 104 to make it 1-1 but Barneveld took the next and then the first set with a 132 checkout. Anderson won the first leg of set 2 (Barneveld averaging 101, Anderson 92) and he ultimately won the set 3-1. Barneveld then checked out 99 to win the third set 3-0, so now 2 sets to 1 to the Dutchman. Anderson began set 4 in style taking out 115 (Bull, 15, Bull!). He went on to win the set to make it 2-2 and a final set to determine the winner. Barneveld dominated taking it 3-0 and with it the Dutch Open title 2006, clocking up a highly respectable 97 average.
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