RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD won his first Las Vegas Desert Classic title with a 13-6 defeat of Terry Jenkins at the Mandalay Bay Resort.
The Dutchman triumphed at the Blue Square UK Open last month, and continued his imperious form to romp through the field in Las Vegas.
He averaged over 100 throughout the tournament, and made amends for his defeat in last year's final with victory this time around.
Van Barneveld knocked out defending champion John Part 11-7 in the semis before returning to the Mandalay Bay stage to claim the £20,000 first prize against Jenkins.
"I've worked hard for this tournament and I'm very proud to have won this," said van Barneveld.
"Last year I was runner-up but I was very focused for this event. I'll enjoy the win and then I've got to look ahead to the World Matchplay later this month."
Jenkins also lost to van Barneveld last Sunday in a Players Championship tournament in Las Vegas, and picked up £10,000 as the runner-up in his second major ranking event.
"I could have been 3-2 up at the first break, but then he had an unbelievable run of legs," he said. "There's nothing you can do about that.
"I believe I will eventually win a major title but the best man won today."
Van Barneveld produced another stunning and clinical performance in the final, hitting finishes of 161 and two 112 checkouts in moving 5-2 up early on.
He then won five straight legs to double his advantage, landing legs of 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 darts.
Jenkins took three of the next four to keep himself in the contest before van Barneveld secured a crucial break of throw to move 12-6 ahead and then sealed the win with a 13-darter.

Las Vegas Desert Classic - Day One Round-Up

PHIL TAYLOR suffered a stunning 6-5 defeat to Mark Dudbridge in the biggest upset of the opening day at the Las Vegas Desert Classic VI.
Taylor, the 13-time World Champion, has never previously lost in a major tournament to Dudbridge but saw his hopes of picking up a fourth Desert Classic title shattered at the Mandalay Bay Resort.
Dudbridge held his nerve to send a tight contest into a deciding 11th leg, and then stepped in to hit double 18 after Taylor was off-target with his one dart for the match.
"Phil has given me plenty of beatings in the past but I'm a new player now," said Dudbridge, who lost to Taylor in the finals of the 2004 World Matchplay and 2005 World Championship.
"I've got so much confidence from this win but I know I’ve got to stay calm, because there are no easy games.
"I played well in the qualifying events and it makes a nice change for me to win a match in Las Vegas – I'm usually around the pool by now!"
Taylor, who was a quarter-final loser in last month's Blue Square UK Open, admitted: "I wasn't good enough today and the better man won."
Three other seeded players were victims on the tournament's opening day, with former world number one Colin Lloyd losing at the first round stage for a second successive year.
He went down 6-3 to Wes Newton - a semi-finalist in 2005 and 2006 in the event who produced the day's most impressive display with a 101 average - while James Wade and Andy Hamilton were 6-5 losers to Colin Osborne and Steve Beaton respectively.
John Part began the defence of his Desert Classic title with a strong 6-4 win over Steve Maish, while Wayne Mardle defied a bout of toothache to see off qualifier John Ferrell 6-3.
World number five Terry Jenkins defeated American Ray Carver 6-3, but the USA were guaranteed one player in the second round as Gary Mawson celebrated Independence Day with a victory over Stuart Holden.
The first round concludes with the remaining eight matches on Thursday, including current World Champion Raymond van Barneveld meeting Kevin Painter and world number four Peter Manley taking on Dutchman Vincent van der Voort.

Las Vegas Desert Classic VI
First Round - Wednesday Results
Colin Osborne 6-5 James Wade
Gary Mawson 6-2 Stuart Holden
Andy Hamilton 5-6 Steve Beaton
Phil Taylor 5-6 Mark Dudbridge
Colin Lloyd 3-6 Wes Newton
Terry Jenkins 6-3 Ray Carver
Wayne Mardle 6-3 John Ferrell
John Part 6-4 Steve Maish

Thursday Fixtures
Gerry Convery v Mervyn King
Dennis Priestley v Dennis Smith
Darin Young v Tony Eccles
Peter Manley v Vincent van der Voort
Raymond van Barneveld v Kevin Painter
John Kuczynski v Alan Tabern
Adrian Lewis v Steve Smith
Roland Scholten v Andy Smith

COLIN OSBORNE 6-5 JAMES WADE

COLIN OSBORNE edged out James Wade 6-5 in a see-saw contest to open the Las Vegas Desert Classic VI in style.
The pair enjoyed a fine battle, with Osborne taking a 4-1 lead before Wade hit back to take the next four legs and move ahead.
But Osborne had the last laugh, levelling the match before punishing five missed darts for victory from Wade to put himself into the last 16.
Wade opened the match well, with scores of 140 and 180 putting him in front in the first leg only for misses at double 16 and double eight to be punished by Osborne taking out double 16 to break throw.
Wade hit back to win the second leg after the Derby man missed two darts at double 12, but Osborne stepped up a gear to win the next three legs without reply.
He landed two maximums and hit an 11-darter in the fourth leg to lift his average to over 104 and leave Wade reeling.
The Stan James World Matchplay runner-up won leg six, hitting the bullseye for an 83 finish, and won the next three legs to move 5-4 up.
Osborne took out double 18 to send the match into a deciding leg.
Wade was first to the double, missing two darts at double four before a 134 score left Osborne sat on 16.
Wade returned to the oche, but after splitting double four he then missed two darts at double two, allowing Osborne in to hit double four himself and win a second round place.
"I was cruising at 4-1 but turned off," admitted Osborne, a semi-finalist in last month's Blue Square UK Open. "I'd broken his throw twice so knew I just had to hold my own throw and let him back in.
"But I felt comfortable and when I got the chance I took it.
"It was a tough first game but the way I feel at the moment, I'm confident and will take anyone on."

GARY MAWSON 6-2 STUART HOLDEN
AMERICAN Gary Mawson celebrated Independence Day in style with a 6-2 win over qualifier Stuart Holden in the second match of the Las Vegas Desert Classic VI.
Mawson was one of the three top-ranked US-based players to win automatic places in the event, and celebrated his return to the big stage with a win.
The Canadian-born player competed in many of the major PDC tournaments between 1995 and 2000, but has been off the scene since.
He took a little time to settle, with Holden - a qualifier from Hyde who also competed in the UK Open last month - taking the first leg.
Mawson hit back to win the next five legs without reply, hitting two 180s and finishing three times on double eight and twice on double ten.
Holden took the seventh leg on double eight, but Mawson hit scores of 140 and 180 in the next to set up double ten for the win.

STEVE BEATON 6-5 ANDY HAMILTON

STEVE BEATON came from behind to edge out Andy Hamilton in an 11-leg thriller.
Beaton battled through the qualifiers for the tournament on Monday, and his progress to the second round means he will now have to re-arrange his flight back to England - having originally booked a plane to return on Thursday alongside another first round winner, Colin Osborne.
The former World Champion produced a battling display against the number ten seed, who eventually paid the price for two missed doubles for the match in the ninth leg.
Beaton took the game's opening leg, but Hamilton won the next three - landing a 161 finish in going 2-1 up -to put himself in command.
The next four legs went with the throw to leave Hamilton 5-3 ahead before he left himself 30 for the match.
He opted for a 14, double eight finish instead of heading direct for the double 15 - only to miss double eight and double four before Beaton took out double ten to stay in the game.
The seasoned pro from Leamington Spa hit double 16 to send the match into the final leg, and his initial four missed doubles for the win looked as though they could prove costly.
Hamilton, though, was narrowly off-target on the bullseye for a 91 finish, and Beaton returned to hit a pressure double two for the win.

MARK DUDBRIDGE 6-5 PHIL TAYLOR
MARK DUDBRIDGE held his nerve to sensationally knock out Phil Taylor in the first round of the Las Vegas Desert Classic.
The Bristol thrower gained his first ever televised win over Taylor with a 6-5 win in a tight contest at the Mandalay Bay Resort.
He came from 5-4 down to send the match into a decider with a pressure double top, and then landed double 18 for the win after Taylor missed one dart for the match.
"Phil has given me plenty of beatings in the past but I'm a new player now," said Dudbridge.
"I've got so much confidence from this win but I know I’ve got to stay calm, because there are no easy games.
"I played well in the qualifying events and it makes a nice change for me to win a match in Las Vegas – I'm usually around the pool by now!"
The game's first three legs all went against the throw, but Dudbridge missed four darts in the fourth to take a 3-1 lead.
Taylor levelled and a fine 177 set him up to go ahead for the first time at 3-2.
The pair traded maximums in the next two legs, and the drama continued as they headed towards the finishing line, with Dudbridge sending the game into a decider.
Taylor began the 11th leg with a maximum, but missed double 16 for the win before Dudbridge finished 76 on double 18 for a memorable triumph.

WES NEWTON 6-5 COLIN LLOYD

WES NEWTON piled on the Las Vegas misery for Colin Lloyd and continued his own love affair with the Desert Classic with a 6-3 first round win.
Newton has reached the tournament's semi-finals for the past two years, and remains on course to emulate that feat following an assured display against the former world number one.
He raced into a 4-1 lead before Lloyd found his rhythm, and went on to condemn the Essex star to a second successive first round exit in the tournament.
"I'm very happy," said Newton, who averaged 101 in an impressive performance. "I got my head down, paid attention to my own game and got on with it.
"It’s never easy in such a short format so I'm delighted to get the win. I've got a good record here and am looking forward to the rest of the week."
The pair shared the first two legs before Newton powered clear with three in a row.
Lloyd took the sixth with a 76 finish, and the duo traded 180s in the next leg before Newton hit an unconventional 90 finish of single one, treble 19 and double 16 to move to within a leg of victory.
Lloyd landed double eight to stay in the game in leg eight, but Newton hit double top to book his last 16 place.

TERRY JENKINS 6-3 RAY CARVER
TERRY JENKINS ended the hopes of American Ray Carver with a 6-3 first round triumph at the Las Vegas Desert Classic.
The world number five progressed to the second round despite a high-quality display from Carver, who hit six 180s in the contest but paid for some inconsistent scoring.
Jenkins hit back from losing the game's opening leg to win four of the next five and put himself in command.
Legs of 15 and 14 darts - including a neat two-dart 97 checkout - kept Carver in the hunt at 4-3.
But Jenkins replied with a 14-darter to move to within a leg of victory, and stumbled somewhat over the finishing line after Carver wasted six darts to stay alive.

WAYNE MARDLE 6-3 JOHN FERRELL

WAYNE MARDLE defied a bout of toothache to book his place in the last 16 of the Las Vegas Desert Classic with a 6-3 win over John Ferrell.
The two-time Desert Classic runner-up saw his preparations for the event disrupted by the sudden onset of tooth pain earlier this week, but produced a solid display to progress.
Ferrell, making his comeback in a major tournament after a seven-year absence, gave as good as he got for much of the contest, taking an early 2-1 lead and producing the best leg of the match with a 13-darter.
However, Mardle's run of four successive legs in the middle of the match proved too much for the qualifer as he secured his second round place before heading from the Mandalay Bay Resort to keep a dentist's appointment.

JOHN PART 6-4 STEVE MAISH
JOHN PART began the defence of his Las Vegas Desert Classic VI title with a strong 6-4 win over plucky Steve Maish.
The Canadian picked up the third major title of his career 12 months ago at the Mandalay Bay Resort, and put himself on course for a repeat in an exciting ten-leg dogfight with Maish.
The Essex-based qualifier had a 97 average in the game and landed two ton-plus finishes, but it was not enough to overcome the double World Champion.
Part won the first two legs after Maish was off-target, before being pegged back level - including a 128 finish from the Englishman in leg four.
The next four legs were traded with the throw to leave the pair locked, before a two-dart 70 finish put Part 5-4 up.
Two 140 scores in the next left the Canadian on 64, and he again checked out in two darts to move into the next round.
"It was an exciting game and I'm relieved to get through," said Part. "Steve played well and gave me some nervous moments."
Maish has slipped out of the world's top 32 this year, but admitted that qualifying for the Desert Classic for the first time was a confidence boost.
"I missed a couple of doubles but I was battling to the end and I never gave up," he said.
"It was a great experience and I want to come back here and do it again next year. I was over the moon to get through the qualifiers, and it's hard work playing John but I enjoyed it.
"I've not been playing well for the last two or three months but hopefully I can start playing well again now and build on this."

Las Vegas Desert Classic - First Round Draw

PHIL TAYLOR will meet Mark Dudbridge in the pick of the first round matches at the Las Vegas Desert Classic VI, while John Part begins his title defence against Steve Maish at Mandalay Bay.
Taylor, the three-time Desert Classic champion and number one seed, will come up against Dudbridge on the tournament's opening night on Wednesday.
Dudbridge, who had to battle through the qualifiers for the event on Monday and Tuesday, has previously faced Taylor in the finals of the World Championship and World Matchplay.
World Champion Raymond van Barneveld has drawn Kevin Painter in another tasty first round contest, while Part takes on Essex qualifier Steve Maish as he bids to emulate his 2006 success.
World number three Colin Lloyd faces a tricky opener against Wes Newton, who has reached the semi-finals for the past two years.
2003 Desert Classic winner Peter Manley has drawn quick-throwing Dutchman Vincent van der Voort - the recent Blue Square UK Open runner-up - in another mouth-watering clash.
Wayne Mardle, twice a runner-up in the tournament, will take on John Ferrell, who has returned to the professional circuit this year and battled through the qualifiers.
Ferrell was one of the 16 players to win a place in the main field from the qualifying events staged on Monday and Tuesday.
Cheshire-based newcomer Stuart Holden meets Gary Mawson, one of four top-ranked North Americans who joined the PDC's top 12 players in qualifying automatically for the main event.
Ronnie Baxter - the runner-up in the inaugural Desert Classic - was the highest profile player to miss out in the qualifiers, along with Welshman Barrie Bates and Andy Jenkins.
Rising stars Colin Osborne and Alan Tabern face James Wade and America's John Kuczynski respectively, and another USA favourite, Ray Carver, drew world number five Terry Jenkins.
PDC newcomers Mervyn King and Tony Eccles face trans-Atlantic battles with Gerry Convery and Darin Young - who each topped the rankings in their respective countries to win a place in the event.
Adrian Lewis will come up against Essex's Steve Smith, Roland Scholten faces Andy Smith and Dennis Priestley has a repeat of his first round clash of 2006 when he takes on Dennis Smith.

Las Vegas Desert Classic VI - First Round Draw
Darin Young v Tony Eccles
Phil Taylor v Mark Dudbridge
Gerry Convery v Mervyn King
John Kuczynski v Alan Tabern
Roland Scholten v Andy Smith
John Part v Steve Maish
Colin Lloyd v Wes Newton
James Wade v Colin Osborne
Gary Mawson v Stuart Holden
Peter Manley v Vincent van der Voort
Raymond van Barneveld v Kevin Painter
Dennis Priestley v Dennis Smith
Andy Hamilton v Steve Beaton
Adrian Lewis v Steve Smith
Terry Jenkins v Ray Carver
Wayne Mardle v John Ferrell
Best of 11 legs
From Round Two onwards a free draw will be made.

Las Vegas Desert Classic VI - Schedule of Play
Wednesday 4 July
11am James Wade v Colin Osborne
11.30am Gary Mawson v Stuart Holden
12pm Andy Hamilton v Steve Beaton
12.30pm Phil Taylor v Mark Dudbridge
1pm Colin Lloydv Wes Newton
1.30pm Terry Jenkins v Ray Carver
2pm Wayne Mardle v John Ferrell
2.30pm John Part v Steve Maish

Thursday 5 July
11am Gerry Convery v Mervyn King
11.30am Dennis Priestley v Dennis Smith
12pm Darin Young v Tony Eccles
12.30pm Peter Manley v Vincent van der Voort
1pm Raymond van Barneveld v Kevin Painter
1.30pm John Kuczynski v Alan Tabern
2pm Adrian Lewis v Steve Smith
2.30pm Roland Scholten v Andy Smith

Las Vegas Players Championship

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD prevailed in a deciding leg shoot-out against Terry Jenkins to win the inaugural Las Vegas Players Championship.
The Dutchman had an ideal warm-up for the Las Vegas Desert Classic at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino by winning a fourth PDC Pro Tour event of 2007.
He had reached the final with four 3-0 whitewashes in his six games, with Jimmy Mann (3-2) and Lionel Sams (3-1) taking sets from the World Champion.
Van Barneveld has opened with a 3-0 victory against Alan Matthews, and three successive wins by the same scoreline against Kevin Painter, Roland Scholten and then in the semis against Dennis Priestley set up a clash with Jenkins.
The Dutchman - last year's Desert Classic runner-up - came from 1-0 down to win the first set, before Jenkins took out a 143 finish on his way to the second.
Two straight legs gave van Barneveld the third, but a 116 finish in the deciding leg of set four sent the match into the final set.
A pressure double nine with his last dart gave van Barneveld leg on, before Jenkins replied against the throw with a fourth 180 of the match to win the second and ensure that the contest went to the last leg.
Jenkins opened with back-to-back 140s but three slack scores allowed van Barneveld in to take out 48 for a 14-darter and the match.
Jenkins had also reached the final by dropping sets in just to matches.
Having opened with whitewashes over Gary Blades and American Chris White, he was taken to a decider by both Darin Young and James Wade.
He then saw off Barrie Bates 3-0 in the quarter-finals and hit back from losing the opening leg in his semi-final against Mervyn King to win six in a row and the match.
Ray Carver was the furthest American, losing to King in a deciding set at the quarter-final stage, while Bill Davis lost in the last 16 to Priestley.

Las Vegas Desert Classic

THE Las Vegas Desert Classic VI begins at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino on Monday, with Phil Taylor looking to claim a fourth title in the event.
The tournament will see over 200 players from around the world head to Las Vegas to compete for over £125,000 in prize money.
The Desert Classic has been won three times by Taylor since its inception in 2002, with Peter Manley (2003) and current champion John Part the other winners.
The top 12 PDC players and four North Americans are joined in the First Round draw by 16 qualifiers - who come through the events staged on Monday and Tuesday and open to all players.
A total of 195 players will be battling for the 16 places, including 2002 runner-up Ronnie Baxter, top American Ray Carver and star Dutch trio Michael van Gerwen, Jelle Klaasen and Vincent van der Voort - the finalist in the Blue Square UK Open earlier in June.
Part battled through last year's Qualifiers before going on to take the title with a 6-3 defeat of Raymond van Barneveld, and picked up victory in a recent Players Championship tournament at Hayling Island.
"Since the PDC US Open in May, I've been playing very solid matches and winning most of them so I feel pretty good," said Part.
"In a way, Hayling Island was my qualifying round for the Desert Classic and I can rest now - I'm ready."
Van Barneveld enters the tournament having picked up a second successive UK Open title at Bolton recently.
He overcame part 11-10 in that event, as well as seeing off Taylor 11-4 in the Englishman's heaviest defeat for nearly three years.
"I'm not too worried about the defeat," said Taylor, who had hit a nine-darter earlier in the UK Open finals.
"It's a massive rivalry with Raymond at the moment, one of the biggest in sport I think, and when I play him I'm buzzing.
"He's a good player, he has a lot of bottle and is brilliant. I played him in Las Vegas too last year and it went all the way to the last leg.
"I'm not beating myself up if I lose though. I've had 20 years of being very dedicated but it's more enjoyable than ever now.
"You've got to do the work if you want to be the best, but it's not easy.
"The Desert Classic is a great tournament and Vegas is a great place to be. I always have a good time and it's my target to win it."
The event often sees lower-ranked players come through from the Qualifiers to make a name for themselves - with Fleetwood's Wes Newton reaching the semi-finals of the past two years.
"I've still got to qualify in Las Vegas but it's funny how some players do really well at certain tournaments," said Newton, the world number 21.
"Maybe once you have a good run you're relaxed and it gives you belief, and I love it in Vegas.
"It's an amazing place and if you get beaten then you can relax and treat it as a holiday, but hopefully I can delay that as long as possible!"
American hopes will focus largely on the pre-qualified trio of Darin Young, John Kuczynski and Gary Mawson, but Ray Carver will be joined by some big names in the qualifiers.
Larry Butler, the inaugural World Matchplay champion in 1994, will be looking to qualify, while Jim Widmayer - who overcome Colin Lloyd on his way to the last 16 at the PDC US Open in May - and Paul Lim.
Gerry Convery has also pre-qualified for round one after a series of ranking tournaments in Canada, with Dan Olson and Rory Orvis leading the Canadian hopefuls in the Qualifiers.
Stacy Bromberg, the top female player in America who led Kevin Painter during the PDC US Open last month, will be the only lady in the field as she seeks to qualify on her home soil of Las Vegas.