RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD hit back from 7-5 down to snatch a draw with Simon Whitlock in their McCoy^s Premier League Darts opener at the Manchester Arena.
Australian star Whitlock looked set to claim both points when he won five legs out of six in the middle of an enthralling contest, but was denied the chance to seal victory as the Dutchman took the last two legs to share the spoils.
"Raymond played some fantastic darts and I^m happy to get away with a draw there," said Whitlock.
"When I was 4-2 down I^d have taken a draw, but when I was 7-5 up I started thinking about the win and Raymond came up with some massive darts in the last two legs.
"I^m really happy with my darts at the moment and it^s a good start to the season. I think it^s going to be a very close McCoy^s Premier League."
Although Whitlock started well, finishing 82 on tops for a 15-darter, before van Barneveld took the next three to move 3-1 up in kicking off with an average well over 100.
Whitlock finished 96 on double nine to take the fifth before van Barneveld produced a sparkling 12-darter which featured a 180 and an 81 checkout to lead 4-2.
Whitlock returned from the break to hit double four and hit back, before hitting two 180s in a brilliant 12-dart leg to level, with even a maximum from van Barneveld unable to prevent the Australian breaking throw.
He then took out 58 to lead for the first time since the opening leg, although van Barneveld landed a pressure double 12 to win the tenth and square the game.
A miss from van Barneveld on double 16 allowed Whitlock to follow an earlier 180 with double four to lead 6-5, and he secured at least a point in the next by taking out double 16 following two more misses from the Dutchman at the same bed.
Van Barneveld kept the game alive brilliantly with another 12-darter, featuring a 180, before landing another maximum in the decider and hitting double eight for a 13-darter to grab a share of the points.
"I thought I^d lost the game at 7-5 down but I fought back well to get the draw," said van Barneveld, who has started 2012 in strong form since his first round loss to James Richardson at the World Championship.
"I was devastated after the World Championship but since the start of January I^ve been working hard and I^m playing well. I^m feeling great and I was comfortable on stage.
"At 4-2 up I was over the moon during the break, and if I^d held my throw I^d have won but Simon showed what a class player he is."
Leg-By-Leg
1-0 - The Dutchman misses the bull for a 121 finish, and Whitlock takes out 82
on tops for the opening leg.
1-1 - van Barneveld posts double ten to level.
1-2 - The five-time World Champion dominates from the off and hits double two
to break throw.
1-3 - Whitlock misses three darts to break back, allowing van Barneveld to move
two legs clear on double 15.
2-3 - Whitlock lands double nine for a 96 finish.
2-4 - van Barneveld hits a 180 to leave 81, and takes the finish out on double
16 for a 12-darter.
3-4 - Double four from Whitlock sees him hit back following the break.
4-4 - Whitlock breaks back to level with a brilliant 12-darter which features
two 180s, with van Barneveld replying with a maximum but unable to prevent the
Australian levelling.
5-4 - Whitlock takes out 58 to lead for the first time since the opening leg of
the game.
5-5 - van Barneveld levels in 15 darts, hitting double 12 at the third time of
asking.
6-5 - Whitlock hits his third 180s of the game, but misses six darts to win the
leg before van Barneveld is just off-target on double 16 to break and allows
the Australian back to land double four.
7-5 - van Barneveld misses two darts at double 16 and Whitlock hits the same
bed to guarantee at least a point.
7-6 - van Barneveld hits a fourth 180, and finishes 61 on double 16 to send the
match into a decider.
7-7 - The Dutchman grabs a draw with a superb 13-dart finish, hitting a 180 and
sealing a point on double eight.
