The Australian continued his gradual improvement in form over the opening three weeks to condemn van Barneveld to a second successive loss.

Five-time World Champion van Barneveld could only watch on as Adrian Lewis took a 6-0 lead and an 8-3 win last week, and was left to rue a near-faultless display of finishing from Whitlock this time around.

Whitlock hit his first seven darts at a double in taking a 7-3 lead and his first miss came with the second attempt of a 'double double' in a 100 finish, before he ended the game with eight doubles from nine chances.

Whitlock opened the match with a brilliant 130 checkout, and hit scores of 180 and 140 in breaking throw with a 13-darter in the second leg.

Van Barneveld hit back on double eight to get off the mark and hit 180s in the next two legs, but could only watch on as Whitlock took out 64 and then 81 - for an 11-darter - to lead 4-1.

The Dutchman took out 95 and then double 16 to win the next two legs, but missed a dart at double 16 to level in leg eight as Whitlock landed a killer blow, checking out 140 to regain a two-leg cushion.

Whitlock hit a 180 in a 13-darter to take the ninth leg, and then took out 82 on tops to maintain his incredible run of finishing.

Van Barneveld set up a potential nine-darter as he fought to stay in the game, missing treble 19 with his eighth dart of a potential perfect leg, although he did take out double 16 to win a fourth leg.

Whitlock then let him in to pull back to 7-5, with the Aussie only just missing the second double top of a party-piece 100 checkout as van Barneveld scrambled home double nine.

However, any hopes of a comeback to grab a point were swiftly dashed as Whitlock piled home double 16 for an 86 finish as he completed a memorable victory.

"I'm absolutely stoked to get such a great win," said Whitlock. "I played well early on but Raymond came back and I started getting a bit nervous towards the end, and I as just happy to win at the end.

"I'm really happy with my finishing and didn't realise it was so good during the game. It's all I practice and probably the easiest part of my game, and my scoring is what I need to work on.

"I feel my form is coming back now and I'll look forward to playing in Exeter next week."