Van Barneveld demolishes der Voort

Raymond van Barneveld showed why he is odds-on favourite to win a fourth Lakeside World Championship title with a 5-0 demolition of compatriot Vincentvan der Voort tonight.

The 37-year-old Dutchman, who triumphed at Frimley Green in 1998, 1999 and 2003, closed out his crushing victory in perfect style with the highest possible checkout, a brilliant 170.

Very much the number one player affiliated to the British Darts Organisation, although not dominant, van Barneveld has yet to drop a set in the tournament so far and put on a ruthless exhibition tonight.

His opponent had ousted defending champion Andy Fordham in the first round but looked a little overawed against his good friend and doubles partner and `Barney' did not have to get out of second gear to win.

He ended the match with an impressive average of 32.96 per dart and fired a warning to the remaining players still in contention, of whom only 2000 champion Ted Hankey has previously appeared in a Lakeside final.

"The 170 was a good way to finish," said van Barneveld, whose 2004 successes included the European Cup singles and pairs, the Dutch Open and the prestigious World Trophy.

"When I am so focused I feel like I can hit everything, and it was magnificent to win the game like that."

In Saturday's semi-finals, van Barneveld will play fifth seed Darryl Fitton who inflicted a 5-0 trouncing on Scottish qualifier Robert Thornton.

Fitton performed his trademark stage entrance to `One Step Beyond', walking on Madness-style complete with shades, and followed up with an emphatic display in which his average per dart was 31.83.

For Thornton the scoreline was more like `Embarrassment' - another hit by Suggs & Co. But the 37-year-old from Ayrshire can be proud of having reached the last eight on his first appearance in a major event.

"I've been playing badly for the last few months, but it's all coming together now,"  said `The Dazzler', a former British Open champion from Stockport.

"I've been wanting to get this far ever since I lost to Andy Fordham at the same stage last year. But it wasn't as easy as it looked tonight. It could have been a lot closer if Robert had been a bit more clinical on the doubles."