Issues almost turned ugly after an exhilarating World Championship match between Phil Taylor and Raymond Van Barneveld.
Taylor and Van Barneveld are liable for a few of the most iconic moments in darts historical past, significantly on stage in the course of the hallmark World Championship throughout its eras at Circus Tavern and most lately Alexandra Palace.
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The pair repeatedly performed vastly necessary matches towards one another and shaped one of the vital iconic rivalries in sporting historical past, whereas jostling for main titles over 27 years.
Their dominance culminated in some thrilling conferences over time, however their respect for every others tungsten craft and off-stage friendship did as soon as threaten to vanish.
Taylor and Van Barneveld met in a monumental semi-final conflict at Ally Pally, with the winner to set to safe a spot within the closing towards rising star Michael Van Gerwen.
It was a sensational match, which noticed ‘The Energy’ oust his well-known rival on stage by selecting up a 6-4 win within the set format.
The Briton pinned his well-known favorite double 16, which sparked a wild celebration as he rotated and jumped for pleasure.
He pumped his fists and celebrated with the gang, earlier than turning round to gather his darts.
As accustomed on the PDC tour, the gamers shake arms and it appeared it will stay civil as conventional.
However because the pair shook arms, Van Barneveld held on to his rival’s hand for longer than he anticipated as he started to stroll away.
The victor regarded livid and rotated with an indignant grimace patterned throughout his face.
Taylor thrust his head in direction of Van Barneveld to shrug him away, earlier than pushing his arm away from being round him.
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The embrace rapidly turned feisty as he grew to become indignant and muttered some indignant phrases in direction of the Dutchman.
Van Barneveld then gave the darting genius a nudge within the again as he marched in direction of the board to shake arms with the scorer.
Fortunately the pair averted extra bodily confrontation, however issues had threatened to spiral uncontrolled.
The pair had one final shouting match earlier than Taylor gathered his issues and walked off stage, a uncommon crack in his icy cool persona.
Van Barneveld tried to place an arm round his rival and pal to elucidate himself, however Taylor was nonetheless seething and the incident was left alone.
Taylor was then topic to investigation by the Darts Regulation Authority for his conduct, who ultimately determined to take no additional motion.
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The finalist then later issued an apology to his fellow icon, admitting he acted out of character.
“Raymond’s a giant lad and he has a robust handshake, and when he pulled me, it damage me,” he mentioned.
“I reacted wrongly and I am ashamed of that as a result of I actually like Raymond I am gutted about what occurred.
“It is upset lots of people and it is also upset me. I’ve contacted Raymond to apologise to him and hopefully we are able to put it behind us now.
“I am very near Raymond, he is an amazing competitor and it was one thing that occurred within the warmth of the second.”
Regardless of the controversy, Taylor went on to do what he did greatest, beating Van Gerwen within the showpiece closing to choose up the Sid Waddell trophy.
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Extremely it strengthened his file, because it was his sixteenth world title, a feat that has by no means been matched since with no participant even near emulating his dominance.
Sadly for Taylor, it was his closing match win on the Ally Pally stage as he was unable to safe a repeat after 2013.
His closing look got here within the match in 2018, the place he reached the ultimate however was overwhelmed by shock winner Rob Cross.
He determined to place down the darts for good on the PDC tour, though he did compete within the World Senior Darts Championship 4 years later.
His rival ‘Barney’ continues to be competing to this present day, however has solely so far been capable of win one world title which got here in 2007.
However he’ll compete alongside the likes of Luke Humphries, Luke Littler and Van Gerwen at this yr’s World Championship on the age of 57.
He’ll face the winner of Stowe Buntz’s conflict with Nick Kenny within the second spherical draw, having earned a bye by means of the opening spherical because of his PDC rating.
The PDC World Championship begins on December 15, with the ultimate going down on January 3.
talkSPORT could have stay commentary of all of the motion throughout the community all through the match.
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