DARTS: Tonight's quarter-final clash in the BDO Embassy World Championship at Frimley Green between Ray "Barney" Barneveld of Holland and England's Mervyn King promises to be a corker.

By Dave Vincent

There have been some great England v Holland sporting battles in the past.

Tonight's quarter-final clash in the BDO Embassy World Championship at Frimley Green between Ray "Barney" Barneveld of Holland and England's Mervyn King promises to be a corker.

King, from Ipswich, was in devastating form in the last round beating Austria's Mensur Suljovic 3-1.

And he wore an orange Netherlands national shirt during that game; a bit of kidology he will not repeat against the Dutch superstar.

King is the world number four and he meets the Dutch player, who is ranked at five, in a match that is due to start at 9.45 pm.

He explained: "It was a way of saying thank you to the Dutch fans who have come over.

"They always show us great hospitality when we go over there.

"I'll wear my normal black shirt this time."

And there is sure to be plenty of vocal "Oranje" support at the Lakeside again though not for King this time.

Three times winner Barneveld was the bookies favourite, at 3-1, to take his third Embassy world title before a dart was thrown. He won the title in 1989 and 1999.

The England international and Dutch star have only met four times in singles, and honours are even with two wins each.

"Now is the time for me to get ahead," said King, "You have to beat the best to be the best.

"I'm pleased with my form. I was scoring well on Tuesday, with six or seven 180s and finishing well too. I finished with a 170 and a 161.

King will be supported by his family, including mum and dad Marian and Mick, cheering him on, along with girlfriend Marie.

Despite his high world ranking his best Embassy result was reaching the semi-final in 1997.

This year he hopes to emulate the achievements of Keith Deller, also from the Chantry area of Ipswich, who took the Embassy world crown in 1983.

Dad Mick King said: "Tuesday was a fantastic night."

The winners of the Barneveld/King tie will go on to meet the winners of Colin Monk v Wayne Mardle in Saturday's semi-final while the final itself will be on Sunday evening.