Wednesday 2 January 2013 23:34, UK
What a tournament it was at Alexandra Palace, with the 20th PDC World Darts Championship to be screened live on Sky Sports going down as one of the best in history.
Barney needle Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld are great friends off the oche, but their relationship soured after their much-hyped semi-final clash when Taylor took offence to a heavy-handed handshake from the big Dutchman and reacted angrily. It left a sour taste in the mouth of fans, viewers and Barney, and Taylor was forced to make a full apology after himself being upset by his own actions and even hinted at quitting darts. Although that talk soon disappeared after he won a 16th world title it will be interesting to see the two clash in the upcoming Premier League. Wayne's World The thrill of the darts comes as much with the atmosphere in the crowd as the magic of the darts being played up on the big stage, and this year was no different with the glamorous walk-on girls, vast array of comical signs and fancy dress outfits. Our own Wayne Mardle was keen to get amongst it and pick out his best costumes and signs amongst the crowd as they enjoyed the hottest ticket in town at the darts. Gone but not forgotten This World Championship was sadly the first without 'The Voice of Darts Sid Waddell' in the Sky Sports commentary box, but despite the gloom organisers ensured his name would forever live on in darts by renaming the World Championship trophy in his honour. Waddell's son was on stage to hand the Sid Waddell Trophy over to Phil Taylor after he claimed the crown, and what more fitting tribute could there be to have the Geordie wordsmith's name on the biggest prize in darts. Champ dethroned Adrian Lewis was the two-time defending champion and was unbeaten in 15 matches on the Ally Pally stage, and despite 'Jackpot' producing some superb arrows, he was just unable to fend off a rampant Van Gerwen in a 4-3 thriller. Only a quarter-final, the match would have graced any final, with Lewis weathering a stunning attack of 180 hitting from the Dutchman to even have two darts for the match before going down 4-2 in the deciding set of an enthralling battle. Both men averaged over 100 and combined for 26 180s, but it was Van Gerwen who sealed a semi-final date with James Wade after hitting one of the biggest double fours of his career. Nine-dart Deano Dean Winstanley came through a tough first round assignment by upsetting Mervyn King, and his second round was just as tough with quick-fire Dutchman Vincent van der Voort lying in wait, but the Yorkshireman responded in style. Winstanley did not manage to battle past van der Voort, but he did etch his name into World Championship history as he completed a nine-dart finish on the Alexandra Palace stage - something even Phil Taylor himself has not yet managed to do. Van Gerwen halved Winstanley's reward though as he equalled his perfect finish, but nobody can take away Winstanley's achievements, and he showed what it meant to him by the way he sprinted almost off the stage to celebrate!
