1985, 1995, 2005 PDC & BDO World Championships rewind

[sennafan24]

Barney had a nightmare in Dutch TV events in 2005, lost about 6 out of 7 matches against Taylor, and fell out with his long-term manager Ad Schoofs. Barney started working with Ed van der Veer around October 2005, who he worked with for the next 4 years.

I wonder if it was Veer who convinced him to switch?

[PT13]

The Match itself was a total domination from Barneveld (Who i felt had another gear if needed) Adams started off brilliantly but faded, In fairness the 2 sets he won he was class but did nothing else and was way off capable of winning a world title. Not a great match but a fine performance from Barneveld who wasn't that far away from Taylor.

03-09 was peak Barney.

06 and 07 was when he was closest to Taylor. Probably 03 too even if they didn't meet H2H.

05, 08, and 09 he was clearly a level below Taylor.

Based on the two finals in 2005. Not much between them, Barney would have beaten Taylor on that performance. But those two are the best two players in the world by a long way. It's a debate to whom was 3rd

In February 2005 at the Masters of Darts in Hengelo, 4-0 in sets to Taylor in the round robin, and 5-2 in sets to Taylor in the semi final.

Third in early 2005 was probably Fordham, at his best for the last time shortly before his big crash in form. I remember that Fordham had match darts against Van der Voort in the first round of 2005 Lakeside, and ended up losing a very close one. Had Fordham won that match, he'd have been a serious threat for the title again, in my opinion. At the 2005 Masters of Darts, Fordham was impressive, apart from Taylor beating him 7-1 in the final. In the round robin, Fordham had given Taylor his toughest match of the tournament, which Taylor won 4-2.

Barney had a nightmare in Dutch TV events in 2005, lost about 6 out of 7 matches against Taylor, and fell out with his long-term manager Ad Schoofs. Barney started working with Ed van der Veer around October 2005, who he worked with for the next 4 years.

Correct.

DartsDatbase was my source - viewtopic.php?p=968165&hilit=cross+code#p968156

I will admit that as much as I dislike him, 03-09 Barney was probably better than I give him credit for.

From 2008-2010, Wade and Barney would trade places between second and third best in the world. Wade had a knack of winning the few majors that Taylor wouldn't win, while Barney seemed to peak in tournaments where Taylor was playing at his best, so Barney got more and more frustrated over time.

[sennafan24]

03-09 was peak Barney.

06 and 07 was when he was closest to Taylor. Probably 03 too even if they didn't meet H2H.

05, 08, and 09 he was clearly a level below Taylor.

Based on the two finals in 2005. Not much between them, Barney would have beaten Taylor on that performance. But those two are the best two players in the world by a long way. It's a debate to whom was 3rd

In February 2005 at the Masters of Darts in Hengelo, 4-0 in sets to Taylor in the round robin, and 5-2 in sets to Taylor in the semi final.

Third in early 2005 was probably Fordham, at his best for the last time shortly before his big crash in form. I remember that Fordham had match darts against Van der Voort in the first round of 2005 Lakeside, and ended up losing a very close one. Had Fordham won that match, he'd have been a serious threat for the title again, in my opinion. At the 2005 Masters of Darts, Fordham was impressive, apart from Taylor beating him 7-1 in the final. In the round robin, Fordham had given Taylor his toughest match of the tournament, which Taylor won 4-2.

Barney had a nightmare in Dutch TV events in 2005, lost about 6 out of 7 matches against Taylor, and fell out with his long-term manager Ad Schoofs. Barney started working with Ed van der Veer around October 2005, who he worked with for the next 4 years.

Correct.

DartsDatbase was my source - viewtopic.php?p=968165&hilit=cross+code#p968156

I will admit that as much as I dislike him, 03-09 Barney was probably better than I give him credit for.

From 2008-2010, Wade and Barney would trade places between second and third best in the world. Wade had a knack of winning the few majors that Taylor wouldn't win, while Barney seemed to peak in tournaments where Taylor was playing at his best, so Barney got more and more frustrated over time.

My theory is that when Taylor was at his best [05, 08-10], he was simply too good for RVB. But when Taylor was below his best [06-07], Barney was very close.

Is that an accurate read? Or was Barney's form in the 2000s fluctuate more than I am making out?

[PT13]

Barney had a nightmare in Dutch TV events in 2005, lost about 6 out of 7 matches against Taylor, and fell out with his long-term manager Ad Schoofs. Barney started working with Ed van der Veer around October 2005, who he worked with for the next 4 years.

I wonder if it was Veer who convinced him to switch?

He possibly gave Barney a final approval, but I do think that Barney really desired to be the best darts player in the world and he realized in 2005 that he just wasn't, and that he needed to challenge himself regularly against Taylor if he was to ever become the proper best player in the world. A lot of Dutch darts and business was tied into the BDO while Barney was a BDO player, so it wasn't an easy separation.

When Barney did switch, I remember that 3 things were confirmed just before:

1. Barney gets the second and final wildcard place into the 2006 Premier League
2. Barney agreed to start at the bottom of the rankings, but it was agreed that the ranking system would change to an order of merit system after the 2007 World Championship was over
3. If Barney didn't qualify for the 2007 PDC World Championship by right, then he'd get a wildcard. That wasn't needed in the end, such was his 2006 form, that he got into the seedings at number 32. With the Order of Merit system, his ranking would have been much higher still at the 2007 World Championship.

[oche balboa]

It's well known that Taylor was getting bored and ready to pack it in and wanted a new challenge, Hearn got Barney over to the PDC and the rest is history.

[sennafan24]

Barney had a nightmare in Dutch TV events in 2005, lost about 6 out of 7 matches against Taylor, and fell out with his long-term manager Ad Schoofs. Barney started working with Ed van der Veer around October 2005, who he worked with for the next 4 years.

I wonder if it was Veer who convinced him to switch?

He possibly gave Barney a final approval, but I do think that Barney really desired to be the best darts player in the world and he realized in 2005 that he just wasn't, and that he needed to challenge himself regularly against Taylor if he was to ever become the proper best player in the world. A lot of Dutch darts and business was tied into the BDO while Barney was a BDO player, so it wasn't an easy separation.

When Barney did switch, I remember that 3 things were confirmed just before:

1. Barney gets the second and final wildcard place into the 2006 Premier League
2. Barney agreed to start at the bottom of the rankings, but it was agreed that the ranking system would change to an order of merit system after the 2007 World Championship was over
3. If Barney didn't qualify for the 2007 PDC World Championship by right, then he'd get a wildcard. That wasn't needed in the end, such was his 2006 form, that he got into the seedings at number 32. With the Order of Merit system, his ranking would have been much higher still at the 2007 World Championship.

I don't recall 3.

I do recall some claiming Barney had lied to the BDO about his intention to stay.

[sennafan24]

It's well known that Taylor was getting bored and ready to pack it in and wanted a new challenge, Hearn got Barney over to the PDC and the rest is history.

He flirted with retirement in early 2004 IIRC.

[oche balboa]

The PDPA wouldn't have stood for that

[PT13]

My theory is that when Taylor was at his best [05, 08-10], he was simply too good for RVB. But when Taylor was below his best [06-07], Barney was very close.

Is that an accurate read? Or was Barney's form in the 2000s fluctuate more than I am making out?

Barney's form did fluctuate. Taylor in 2006 won the World Championship, Premier League, World Series of Darts, World Matchplay, World Darts Trophy and World Grand Prix. Barney in 2006 won the International Darts League and UK Open. In their direct matchups in 2006, it was a 7-7 draw in their first Premier League meeting, 8-6 to Taylor in their second Premier League meeting, with Taylor going on to win the event. Barney beat Taylor 11-10 in the quarter finals of the UK Open and went on to win the tournament, Barney beat Taylor 4-3 in sets in the semi finals at the Las Vegas Desert Classic (but Barney lost 3-6 to Part in the final), while Taylor beat Barney 3-1 in sets in the Last 16 of the 2006 World Grand Prix and went on to win the tournament.

2006 Taylor was a very good Taylor for most of the year, even better than 2005 in my opinion.

Barney's form would fluctuate. Only in January-March 2007 and June-July 2007 would I say that Barney had the reputation of "He's the best player in the world at this very moment" and that being properly justified. I think June-July 2007 was the peak of that, when he was the reigning World Champion, Masters of Darts winner, UK Open champion (beat Taylor 11-4 in the quarter finals) and won the Las Vegas Desert Classic at a canter.

Barney mostly had struggles in form in the late months of 2007 and in mid 2008. By the 2008 World Matchplay, he was tinkering a lot with his darts, using ceramic darts, led Mardle 12-7 in the quarter final and ended up losing. At that point, Wade was definitely the second best player. After that, Barney took a break and didn't return until about a week before the 2008 World Grand Prix. Barney was now back in proper form again, and Wade wasn't playing as well as before. That dynamic went through into early 2009 or even mid 2009, but Wade had a better 2009 Premier League (and won it, after Taylor lost to King in the semi finals).

[PT13]

It's well known that Taylor was getting bored and ready to pack it in and wanted a new challenge, Hearn got Barney over to the PDC and the rest is history.

He flirted with retirement in early 2004 IIRC.

Taylor did retire, for 4 days. The final against Painter was on the night of 4 January 2004. Taylor was retired from 5-9 January 2004. Even when Taylor reversed his retirement, he took several months off. Taylor was clearly exhausted, and coming so close to going 2 years in a row without winning the World Championship was a nightmare.

[oche balboa]

Barney had a nightmare in Dutch TV events in 2005, lost about 6 out of 7 matches against Taylor, and fell out with his long-term manager Ad Schoofs. Barney started working with Ed van der Veer around October 2005, who he worked with for the next 4 years.

I wonder if it was Veer who convinced him to switch?

He possibly gave Barney a final approval, but I do think that Barney really desired to be the best darts player in the world and he realized in 2005 that he just wasn't, and that he needed to challenge himself regularly against Taylor if he was to ever become the proper best player in the world. A lot of Dutch darts and business was tied into the BDO while Barney was a BDO player, so it wasn't an easy separation.

When Barney did switch, I remember that 3 things were confirmed just before:

1. Barney gets the second and final wildcard place into the 2006 Premier League
2. Barney agreed to start at the bottom of the rankings, but it was agreed that the ranking system would change to an order of merit system after the 2007 World Championship was over
3. If Barney didn't qualify for the 2007 PDC World Championship by right, then he'd get a wildcard. That wasn't needed in the end, such was his 2006 form, that he got into the seedings at number 32. With the Order of Merit system, his ranking would have been much higher still at the 2007 World Championship.

I don't recall 3.

I do recall some claiming Barney had lied to the BDO about his intention to stay.

BDO spokesman Robert Holmes said the organisation was disappointed to have lost a player of Barneveld's profile, particularly after he had indicated he would be staying.

He said: "It is very sad he is moving on when, not that many weeks ago, he vowed to come back and try and win a fifth title.

"He wrote us a letter saying that he had won everything with the BDO and was looking for a new challenge and it had nothing to do with anything else.

"We have no choice but to wish him well but what the BDO offers the BBC is a genuine world title and players are starting on their road to play at Lakeside next year.

"Last year we had 12 players making their debuts and that's brilliant for the sport."

[PT13]

Just before Barney left the BDO, he also won the 2006 Dutch Open.

I suppose it was a bit embarrassing that Raymond and Sylvia van Barneveld went out of their way to get Eric Bristow at the 2006 Lakeside final (to equal 5), only for Barney to play below his usual standard and Klaasen punish him in the final.

[Rogg]

My earliest clear darts memory is the 1990 Embassy, although I was apparently watching even earlier. The location was both my mum's house and my maternal grandparents house. Taylor's semi final and final win that weekend especially stand out. Lazarenko only won 1 leg in the semi final. And then Taylor beat Bristow 6-1 in sets.

The 1992 Embassy final between Taylor and Gregory. At the time, we never ever thought that there could be such an amazing darts match ever again. The standard and drama for the time was off the charts. My grandad wasn't there with my mum, my nan and I, as he was off having a round of golf with some friends.

I've still got a VHS tape of 1993 Embassy quarter final and semi final BBC footage that I recorded at the time, along with Mr. Bean in Room 426 after it, which broadcast on ITV a month later. LOL. Some of this 1993 Embassy footage includes Dougie Donnelly mentioning the split about the 16 rebel players signing a World Darts Council statement.

Mr. Bean in Room 426. love it. It's possibe that I can find the Radio Times listings for the sessions you recorded in 1993. Would it have been the afternoon coverage that you recorded?

As I recall, I had two highlights programmes on that VHS tape before Mr. Bean in Room 426. The first involved highlights of two quarter final matches (Mike Gregory vs. Bobby George, John Lowe vs. Kevin Spiolek), and the second was semi final highlights (John Lowe vs. Bobby George, Alan Warriner vs. Steve Beaton). They were night programmes. Dougie Donnelly talking about the 16 rebels signing the World Darts Council statement was immediately after showing Lowe beating Spiolek, just as the first programme mentioned above was ending.

This listing would have been that semi-final highlights show. 11.20pm on BBC2.

[oche balboa]

Just before Barney left the BDO, he also won the 2006 Dutch Open.

I suppose it was a bit embarrassing that Raymond and Sylvia van Barneveld went out of their way to get Eric Bristow at the 2006 Lakeside final (to equal 5), only for Barney to play below his usual standard and Klaasen punish him in the final.

Bristow wasn't really welcome there. It didn't go down too well & I recall Bobby George telling Bristow to behave

[sennafan24]

My theory is that when Taylor was at his best [05, 08-10], he was simply too good for RVB. But when Taylor was below his best [06-07], Barney was very close.

Is that an accurate read? Or was Barney's form in the 2000s fluctuate more than I am making out?

Barney's form did fluctuate. Taylor in 2006 won the World Championship, Premier League, World Series of Darts, World Matchplay, World Darts Trophy and World Grand Prix. Barney in 2006 won the International Darts League and UK Open. In their direct matchups in 2006, it was a 7-7 draw in their first Premier League meeting, 8-6 to Taylor in their second Premier League meeting, with Taylor going on to win the event. Barney beat Taylor 11-10 in the quarter finals of the UK Open and went on to win the tournament, Barney beat Taylor 4-3 in sets in the semi finals at the Las Vegas Desert Classic (but Barney lost 3-6 to Part in the final), while Taylor beat Barney 3-1 in sets in the Last 16 of the 2006 World Grand Prix and went on to win the tournament.

2006 Taylor was a very good Taylor for most of the year, even better than 2005 in my opinion.

Barney's form would fluctuate. Only in January-March 2007 and June-July 2007 would I say that Barney had the reputation of "He's the best player in the world at this very moment" and that being properly justified. I think June-July 2007 was the peak of that, when he was the reigning World Champion, Masters of Darts winner, UK Open champion (beat Taylor 11-4 in the quarter finals) and won the Las Vegas Desert Classic at a canter.

Barney mostly had struggles in form in the late months of 2007 and in mid 2008. By the 2008 World Matchplay, he was tinkering a lot with his darts, using ceramic darts, led Mardle 12-7 in the quarter final and ended up losing. At that point, Wade was definitely the second best player. After that, Barney took a break and didn't return until about a week before the 2008 World Grand Prix. Barney was now back in proper form again, and Wade wasn't playing as well as before. That dynamic went through into early 2009 or even mid 2009, but Wade had a better 2009 Premier League (and won it, after Taylor lost to King in the semi finals).

Fair points

I often link Taylor's performances in the 06 PDC Worlds in with 2005, as most of that event was played in Dec of 2005.

You are probably right about Taylor's 2006 being stronger than I make out though. It was 2007 where I specifically recall him struggling at times [MP and GP]. Sky's advertising for the GP that year was based around Taylor's lack of Sky TV trophies that year [he won the PL, but lost in the UK Open, MP, Desert Classic, and Worlds]

Barney also changed his darts in late 2006, which seemingly worked well for a while -

[sennafan24]

Barney had a nightmare in Dutch TV events in 2005, lost about 6 out of 7 matches against Taylor, and fell out with his long-term manager Ad Schoofs. Barney started working with Ed van der Veer around October 2005, who he worked with for the next 4 years.

I wonder if it was Veer who convinced him to switch?

He possibly gave Barney a final approval, but I do think that Barney really desired to be the best darts player in the world and he realized in 2005 that he just wasn't, and that he needed to challenge himself regularly against Taylor if he was to ever become the proper best player in the world. A lot of Dutch darts and business was tied into the BDO while Barney was a BDO player, so it wasn't an easy separation.

When Barney did switch, I remember that 3 things were confirmed just before:

1. Barney gets the second and final wildcard place into the 2006 Premier League
2. Barney agreed to start at the bottom of the rankings, but it was agreed that the ranking system would change to an order of merit system after the 2007 World Championship was over
3. If Barney didn't qualify for the 2007 PDC World Championship by right, then he'd get a wildcard. That wasn't needed in the end, such was his 2006 form, that he got into the seedings at number 32. With the Order of Merit system, his ranking would have been much higher still at the 2007 World Championship.

I don't recall 3.

I do recall some claiming Barney had lied to the BDO about his intention to stay.

BDO spokesman Robert Holmes said the organisation was disappointed to have lost a player of Barneveld's profile, particularly after he had indicated he would be staying.

He said: "It is very sad he is moving on when, not that many weeks ago, he vowed to come back and try and win a fifth title.

"He wrote us a letter saying that he had won everything with the BDO and was looking for a new challenge and it had nothing to do with anything else.

"We have no choice but to wish him well but what the BDO offers the BBC is a genuine world title and players are starting on their road to play at Lakeside next year.

"Last year we had 12 players making their debuts and that's brilliant for the sport."

Good find.

[sennafan24]

It's well known that Taylor was getting bored and ready to pack it in and wanted a new challenge, Hearn got Barney over to the PDC and the rest is history.

He flirted with retirement in early 2004 IIRC.

Taylor did retire, for 4 days. The final against Painter was on the night of 4 January 2004. Taylor was retired from 5-9 January 2004. Even when Taylor reversed his retirement, he took several months off. Taylor was clearly exhausted, and coming so close to going 2 years in a row without winning the World Championship was a nightmare.

Tommy Cox later gave insight into how distressing the 04 Painter final was for him.

Cameras also picked up Taylor lobbing a dart against the board in frustration during a break.

[sennafan24]

Just before Barney left the BDO, he also won the 2006 Dutch Open.

I suppose it was a bit embarrassing that Raymond and Sylvia van Barneveld went out of their way to get Eric Bristow at the 2006 Lakeside final (to equal 5), only for Barney to play below his usual standard and Klaasen punish him in the final.

Bristow wasn't really welcome there. It didn't go down too well & I recall Bobby George telling Bristow to behave

Bristow slagged off the final to the papers afterwards

[oche balboa]

Just before Barney left the BDO, he also won the 2006 Dutch Open.

I suppose it was a bit embarrassing that Raymond and Sylvia van Barneveld went out of their way to get Eric Bristow at the 2006 Lakeside final (to equal 5), only for Barney to play below his usual standard and Klaasen punish him in the final.

Bristow wasn't really welcome there. It didn't go down too well & I recall Bobby George telling Bristow to behave

Bristow slagged off the final to the papers afterwards

Yep he did. Compared to Taylor's visit in 2001 this didn't go well with the BDO big dogs

[sennafan24]

Just before Barney left the BDO, he also won the 2006 Dutch Open.

I suppose it was a bit embarrassing that Raymond and Sylvia van Barneveld went out of their way to get Eric Bristow at the 2006 Lakeside final (to equal 5), only for Barney to play below his usual standard and Klaasen punish him in the final.

Bristow wasn't really welcome there. It didn't go down too well & I recall Bobby George telling Bristow to behave

Bristow slagged off the final to the papers afterwards

Yep he did. Compared to Taylor's visit in 2001 this didn't go well with the BDO big dogs

Taylor got along well with Potter IIRC.

Whereas Bristow and Croft loathed one another.