Barney pips David Pallett to the post
Newport's David Pallett was pipped to the post by five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld at the PDC's UK Open last night.
The televised finals got underway for three days at Butlins in Minehead with the ITV4 cameras broadcasting live,
The unseeded 128-player field is made up of the top 96 in the UK Open Order of Merit, played between the pros, and 32 wildcards from qualifiers at Rileys Sports Clubs across the country.
Pallett entered at the second round stage after finishing 35th on the Order of Merit, based on six qualifiers, with the top 32 coming in at the third round stage.
The Shropshire thrower did join them after a comprehensive win over Jason Marriott in his afternoon game, dropping just a leg to ease through 6-1.
That set up a clash with the Dutchman, three-time winner of the BDO world title and twice the PDC crown, in the evening's session.
It was the only third time the two have ever met competitively at the oche and the first at a PDC major, with 'Barney' winning the previous two clashes.
This would prove to be their closest affair yet, with the two swapping the initiative at will. Pallett led 7-6, but failed to surge ahead.
That said, it still needed magic from van Barneveld to get himself over the line, with the best-of-17 tie going to a deciding leg.
An 11-dart leg came in timely fashion to leave Pallett shaking his head. Van Barneveld went on to play Phil Taylor on the main stage today.
Had he got through, it would have been the second year in a row Pallett took on 'the Power' in the UK Open's fourth round.
