Raymond van Barneveld made history by becoming the first man to compile a nine-dart finish at the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship as he swept aside Jelle Klaasen 5-1 to reach the semi-finals.

The five-time World Champion appeared determined to reclaim the biggest prize in darts on Friday and produced a stunning display - producing 10 maximums and averaging 107.

Fellow former World Champion Klaasen contributed to the breakneck pace of the match but could do little to match his countryman.

"I was full of confidence and in my own zone - and what happened afterwards...I don't know," van Barneveld said of his achievement. "I was so focused on that treble 20 and they went in big time."

Van Barneveld also said that he was "very proud to be the first one to hit this in a World Championship" and added his belief that he can "go all the way now".

Demonstrating his fast finishing to full effect, Klaasen broke his opponent in the third leg on his way to taking the first set. But the tables were turned in set two, with van Barneveld taking it 3-0 to level.

The older man was easing into the match and took the third set averaging 110. And, with the maximums from both players coming thick and fast, van Barneveld edged the fourth for a 3-1 lead.

The fifth set also went to a deciding leg, with van Barneveld making a 96 checkout to place himself within a set of victory - the nine-darter coming in the second leg of the sixth.

For the third successive time, the set stood two legs apiece and van Barneveld booked himself a place in the last four in fitting style with a 161 finish.

Van Barneveld, who averaged 106.68 and sealed victory with a 161 checkout, will pocket £20,000 for the nine-darter assuming no one else emulates the feat in the remaining matches.

"Winning the game means more to me than hitting the nine-darter, but it's an unbelievable achievement," he added.

Van Barneveld started the match well with a 14-dart finish, before Klaasen took three successive legs to win the opening set.

The five-time world champion hit back to win six legs on the spin to move into a 2-1 lead before Klaasen went ahead in the fourth with a 99 finish before Van Barneveld hit back, successive 11-darters sealing the set.

Van Barneveld also claimed the next set 3-2 to open up a 4-1 lead.

Klaasen started the sixth set with a 107 checkout, but Van Barneveld shattered his opponent with a perfect leg in the next. He followed up successive 180s with a treble 20, treble 19 and double 12, to check out in nine.

Klaasen rallied to take the next leg with ease, but Van Barneveld levelled in the next before a superb 161 checkout to seal the win.

"It wasn't going to be easy because Jelle has beaten me twice before on TV so I was very focused," Van Barneveld added. "I had to look at it as just another game, not a revenge mission, and that's what I did.

"After the first set I played absolutely brilliantly and now I'm dreaming I can go all the way."

Klaasen said: "I didn't play a great game and twice in sets where I had the throw, in the fourth and sixth sets, I didn't have a good deciding leg.

"Against me on stage it's the best Raymond has played and the nine-dart finish was brilliant, and the 161 for the match. He was the better player."