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COMEBACK KING BARNEY SEES OFF SMITH IN THRILLER

FIVE-TIME World Champion Raymond van Barneveld continued to roll back the years with a vintage comeback win to reach the semi-finals of the William Hill World Darts Championship, as Gary Anderson, Adrian Lewis and Jelle Klaasen also triumphed at Alexandra Palace on New Year's Day.

Nine years to the day since he famously came from 3-0 down to defeat Phil Taylor in the legendary 2007 World Championship final, van Barneveld again overturned a three-set deficit before coming from two legs down in the decider to defeat Smith. The former World Youth Champion hit 13 180s in a classic contest, but crucially missed a dart at tops to win the deciding ninth set 3-0 before van Barneveld took four straight legs for victory.

"It's all about belief," said van Barneveld, who hit four 121 checkouts on the way to a third consecutive deciding set victory. "He hit so many good finishes and when I was 3-0 down it felt like it wasn't going to happen but I kept believing and hit some really crucial doubles. Maybe there is someone up there helping me. I can't describe my feelings right now. It could be my year again."

Van Barneveld will meet Lewis in the semi-finals after the 2011 and 2012 World Champion defeated number four seed Peter Wright 5-2. The Stoke star won the first three sets and his opponent failed to recover but, after winning two of the next three sets, Wright missed a dart to make it 4-3 and a confident Lewis finished him off.

"It will take a tough opponent to beat me," said Lewis, after a high quality affair in which both players averaged over 102. "I'm up there trying my best all the time to win this title and my form is coming together nicely. I might not have knocked Michael van Gerwen or Phil Taylor out but you can only beat whoever is put in front of you. Barney is playing really well and I'll have to be at my best to beat him."

Reigning World Champion Anderson continued his excellent defence of the Sid Waddell Trophy with a 5-1 demolition of James Wade. The world number two coasted to victory with an average of over 105, also wiring double 12 for a nine-darter on a day that saw the perfect leg possibility set up eight times after six darts.

The Scottish ace is now just two games away from becoming the third player to successfully defend his first World Championship title, and he said: "It's going alright so far and I'm happy. I've felt comfortable and confident ever since I got the first game out of the way. It was a good performance, although it would have been nice to have hit the nine-darter - but I'm sure that there will be one or two before the end of the tournament."

Klaasen produced a sensational five-leg burst to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against Ally Pally debutant Alan Norris, who also narrowly missed double 12 for a nine-dart-finish. The classy Dutchman was a leg away from defeat - as he had been in his third round triumph over 16-time World Champion Taylor - when Norris led 2-1 in the eighth set but produced back-to-back 11-darters to force a deciding set, in which he romped to victory.

"In the last few years I've learned to play my best darts under pressure," said Klaasen, who became the first to player to win their next match after knocking Taylor out of the World Championship. "I needed those two 11-darters but I always believe in myself and I'm happy to be through. If I continue to play like I have been this week, I can win this."
The thrilling battle between Klaasen and Norris also saw the pair set up five potential perfect legs between them after six darts had been thrown - but neither, like Anderson later in the day, were able to finish off a nine-darter to claim a 15,000 pound bonus.

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