BARNEY'S CRYIN' TO BEAT PAIN.

(From The Daily Star)

Byline: RICHARD LEWIS

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD has revealed how he cried the first time he beat Phil Taylor - but the pain of defeat really hurt. It is why the final of the Ladbrokes. com World Darts Championship between the pair in Purfleet tonight could become the greatest match in the sport's history. A clash between the game's best two players - and, at last, on the biggest stage. Dutchman Barney beat 'The Power' in Switzerland in 2000, yet when he was thrashed by him on his home soil, he could hardly bear it. "I lost 4-0. I was giving an interview in front of the cameras and there were 3,800 fans cheering for Phil, " said Barney, 39. "They were singing 'There is only one Phil Taylor'. Can you imagine that in your home country? Do you know what that does to you? "What have I learned from playing Phil? Pain! Sometimes I have said to myself 'He is too good for me'. "He is so complete. He never misses doubles much. He is almost like a robot. "People would tell me 'You have won so many titles in the BDO, but there is a guy playing in another organisation and we think he is better than you'. "I remember I cried the first time I beat him. I had played extremely well." No doubt there could be tears again tonight when Taylor, a 13-times world champion, and Barneveld, who has four world crowns, meet for the GBP100,000 prize. They have clashed 15 times in 17 years, although Barney has won only four. But the honour of becoming the first sporting world champion of 2007 has captured the imagination of the globe. The match is being screened live from Canada to India and it is expected that over half a million pounds will be gambled on the outcome. However, the odds tell their own story: Taylor is 4/11 with the event sponsors, while Barneveld is 2/1. Statistics tell you that Taylor, 46, should win: in the semi-finals, 'The Power's' average was 105.40, while Barney hit 99.23 However, Taylor said: "Do not worry about that. All those figures mean is that we are both in the final." Taylor, who is still hoping royal sports star Zara Phillips might even make the journey to the Circus Tavern, will step up looking to strengthen an incredible record at this championship. He has played in all previous 13 finals, winning 11, while tonight is his 72nd match, having lost just two. The Dutchman made six BDO finals, winning four, and it was prior to last year's event - where he was beaten by fellow Dutchman Jelle Klaasen in the final - that he realised he to had to leave for the PDC. "It was in my head that even if I won a fifth BDO world title, still there is a man on this earth who has achieved more, " said Barney. "It will be a fantastic game and it is the reason why ...