Watch Raymond van Barneveld lose ‘one of best darts matches in history’ despite averaging stunning 112.71

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD took part in one of the best darts matches in history – but came out on the losing side.

The Dutchman was in brilliant form and will question how he was unable to win.

Raymond van Barneveld was knocked out of the Players Championship despite a top displayRex

Van Barneveld recorded an astonishing average of 112.71 across the ten legs – better than his opponent Wessel Nijman.

And although he led 4-3 at one point, Nijman took the next three legs to win 6-4.

He is now in the second round of the Players Championship having produced a 12-darter and a 13-darter to win.

Van Barneveld also produced two 11-darters as each of the ten legs was won within five visits to the oche.

Barney took the first leg before falling behind 2-1, but he turned things around to lead 3-2 and then 4-3.

However Nijman then produced his comeback and checked out 81 to secure the eighth leg with a 12-darter.

He followed that up with a 76 check out to break Van Barneveld and then secured victory with a 13-darter.

Van Barneveld lost to Luke Littler in the World Series Finals last week, and compared the teenage sensation to Phil Taylor.

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Littler won the tournament, his second ranking event of the year, and Van Barneveld revealed how shocked he was after he lost to the teen at the World Championships.

Barney said of that performance: “I was shocked in the Worlds the story went, that I was one of his idols.

“He played amazing. I was literally watching him at the back of the oche thinking this is like there were magnets in his darts!

“It really looked like that. I’ve played the best players in the world.

“I’ve played Phil Taylor, I’ve played Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson, but this was something else.”