Barneveld savours title win

Barneveld celebrates his victory

Watch Raymond Barneveld win the title

Dutch darts master Raymond Barneveld spoke of his "fantastic feeling" after winning the Embassy World title for a third time on Sunday.

The 35-year-old held off a valiant fightback from Welshman Ritchie Davies to prevail 6-3 in the final and add to his victories at the Lakeside in 1998 and 1999.

Barneveld is only the third man, after five-time champion Eric Bristow and treble winner John Lowe, to lift the Embasy crown for a third time.

"When you the win the title for the first time it's very good," he said.

"After 2000 when I lost in the first round I did not believe in myself. I've had to work hard to get on this level again.

Report: Barneveld claims world title

"Mentally, the fight came back in my life and I started to believe in myself again.

"2001 was a good year as well because I won the Dutch Open and the Winmau World Masters, but I didn't win the Embassy.

"In my opinion if you don't win it your year is lost. But I've won it again and that's fantastic."

Beaten finalist Davies, who came back from 4-0 down to 4-3, admitted that in the crunch situations, his opponent was the better man.

"I was trying to get into the match but every time I got to a fifth leg, Raymond always came up with the big score," the Welshman said.

Photo gallery: Barneveld's victory