Darts legends in Perth showdown
Raymond van Barneveld, MC Russ Bray, Zander Clark and Phil Taylor Perth darts fans were treated to a masterclass at the weekend.
Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld went head to head in the Dewars Centre.
The exhibition match, which was won by Taylor, was played in front of a vocal crowd which numbered over 400.
Members of the audience were also given the chance to get up on stage and test their skills against the world’s best.
Organisers Barry Leitham and John Ramsay of AREL Promotions were pleased with how the evening panned out.
Leitham said: “Everything went to plan and the meet and greet was fantastic. There was a great atmosphere about the place.
“Phil and Raymond were happy to sit for photographs and have a blether. They were down-to-earth guys. They are two legends of the game and I don’t think Perth has ever seen a night like it. Darts-wise it’s the biggest thing to come to the county.
“We’ve done a few exhibitions over the last couple of years so now we’ll sit back, take stock and see what comes back from the public.
“It can only help Perth with two global superstars playing for the Perth 2021 trophy, who usually play to arenas of 10,000-plus every week.”
St Johnstone goalkeeper Zander Clark was at the event and played a set against Taylor after winning the Perth club’s tournament earlier in the week.
While Taylor came out on top, it was an experience the 24-year-old will not forget.
“We had a darts tournament at the club and, if I’m being honest, I thought it was a joke that the winner would play either Taylor or van Barneveld,” he said.
“I managed to win it and it was a good laugh. I’d probably have to say I’m up there with the best at the club.
“Steven Anderson is good and so is Murray Davidson and Michael Coulson, who I beat in the final. Tam Scobbie thinks he is a player but he usually gets sent away.
“It’s something we play in the morning when we have a little bit of time and it’s a sport I like to follow when it’s on.”