Relive this epic encounter between Van Barneveld and Van Gerwen from the semi-finals of the 2017 World Darts Championship, with the record for the highest winning and losing average being set. Stunning darts!
Mvg or anyone is nowhere near that level now. This version of Barney would win world championship or other majors in 2022, I think that’s why Barney came back. He knows standard at the top has slipped and there’s still potential for him to succeed
Yeah, very good point. Barney probably would have beaten anyone else in the world with that performance but couldn't get near van Gerwen. It did seem to affect his confidence after this match.
One of the best matches of all time… players struggles to keep a 106 average over 15 legs in a pro tour final. I believe mvg would destroy anyone in this form
Probably, the best game of darts I've ever watched. Van Barneveld played wonderful and barely got a sniff after the fourth set. This was van Gerwen at his absolute best.
MVG in his prime here for sure. 2016 season was insane. His average was well over a 100 (sometimes well above) I think in nearly all televised tournaments.
@Donalob I feel this MvG was the best darts player ever. The standard around this time was incredible with Taylor and RvB still playing a top level, Anderson reaching his peak and players like Lewis still at the top of their game. And MvG was THE standard of this era. It will be difficult to match the time of around 2014-2018 for sheer consistency of that quality.
@@noelatcheson4174Agreed completely. The highest ceiling in darts I've seen ever was this year from MVG. You could count on 1 hand the times he'd miss the 20 in this match, or wouldn't at least score a tonne. Amazing vertical accuracy which I think is what's missing from his game today.
Most likely, this has been the most perfect revenge ever. The year before, MvG lost even though the averages were 105 vs. 100 in his favor. Barney actually played much better in this game (average over 109) and still got totally demolished. Unbelieavable.
2016-2017 MVG played the highest level of darts ever achieved by a human being. Not one of the current top players is able to copy that level over a timespan of 2 years, winning like 90 percent of all tournaments. Not even MVG himself will ever be able to achieve that level again I'm afraid.
@Gaz Walker Taylor is definitely the ‘greatest’ of all time, due to his unbelievable and most likely unmatchable accomplishments, but MVG is most definitely the most talented player we have ever seen and possibly ever will see
It was really unbelievable to hear van Barneveld after the match. He said he was full shit, he was done.... I thought what the hell you are talking about? You played one the best matches in your career, but lost to a machine that day that was unbeatable in those years.
After 3 consecutive semi final loses and at such an old age its hard to tell your self you've still got a chance. Not the best mentality but he's not a robot.
@@Optitius I'm clutching at straws here lol probably not much but I just find it strange that him and Taylor left the manufacturer that got them titles
@Reece Taylor-Lock I wish we could of seen MVG and Taylor play in their primes. Both of them have played at a ridiculously high level that no one can reach as consistently as them. Much more depth in darts now but they were just a complete level above in their peaks.
The PDC did all they could to remove the entire match with the build up, the commentary during the breaks and so on. I'm glad I downloaded in time so I could watch the whole thing again. Shame on you PDC to remove the entire match with the full commentary. Especially considering this match is the best match ever in the history of the PDC and the biggest advertisement for the sport.
This is why Van gerwen is the greatest darts player of all 🐐 Prime Van Gerwen was Unbeatable I hope after his injury he gets back to this form 🔥 I love Mvg ❤
GOAT of 🐐S, Darts has never seen a talent and player like this especially when he won every major in 2016 includes the 2017 championship but started in 2016… Unbelievable GOAT levels 🐐 🐐
Although he lost the first 3 legs on the spin, never write MvG off! I’ve seen him lose 6 legs on the bounce then win the next 8! I generally don’t know if he takes time to “settle” in to the match or plays minds games by purposely losing (at his own peril) the first few legs because he’s supremely confident of winning the match. Irrespective of the above, this was an incredibly exciting game!!
Thanks for answering my prayers PDC 🤣🤣 I only asked yesterday jeez 🤣 (I asked for this match when they uploaded Barney v mvg from the grand slam a couple of days ago)
After 6 legs played, RvB had won 5 of them with Finishes of 41 (2 darts), 96 (2 darts), 107, 131 and 160, while MvG had won 1 leg, a 124. 4 ton+ checkouts, and 1 missed darts between them (MvG missed Bull for another 124 in leg 6), all inside 6 legs of darts. Astonishing!
Highlights to me how easier it is to achieve these kind of averages on the wafer thin wires of a modern darts board with the pin size sharps. Greatness is not just about the numbers.
Does anybody know why MvG doesnt throw like this anymore? I mean the throwing style. The tips of his arrows point much more downwards and his swing went from a circular arc movement with his arm to a somewhat push and pull back. Surely he is aware of that, is there a reason?
Too bad MvG became a father. The young hungry MvG was the best darts ever seen. Wish he will be hungry again to show the World that he is the real GOAT.
I hope he wins more majors to add to his tally and pro titles overall so he beats the record before retirement Atleast. But let’s see if he can perform at his best again, with his child being there in person watching live to give him more motivation to perform one day. Never the end of a career only the start of something new, doing it for his children could hopefully spur his prime back on for another few years, one day. 🐐
This match did break Barney one because of the standard he played and got nowhere winning but he also beat van gerwen the year previous which I think probably bothered him more
This was the game that started the downfall for Barney, cuz you don't play a 8 set game of darts averaging 109 without feeling the gut punch of a demolishing loss. This was Van Gerwen at his peak, hell with the 123.4 average, he performed exquisitely to win in the fashion he did
