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Darts: Raymond van Barneveld to retire after 2020 PDC World Championship

Last updated on .From the section Dartscomments67

Raymond van Barneveld
Raymond van Barneveld is now down to 15th in the PDC Order of Merit

Five-time world darts champion Raymond van Barneveld says he will retire after the 2020 PDC World Championship.

The 51-year-old Dutchman, known widely as 'Barney', is one of only three players to win five world titles.

He won the British Darts Organisation (BDO) title in 1998, 1999, 2003 and 2005 before moving to the Professional Darts Corporation and beating Phil Taylor in the 2007 final.

"I noticed in myself that I can't keep up any more," said Van Barneveld.

"I know what I can do but it's just not been happening for the past three or four years, apart from winning the World Cup with Michael [van Gerwen].

"Next year is going to be my 35th year of playing darts at the highest level and it's going to be my last year.

"I'm not winning tournaments any more. I don't know why but a lot of things have happened in my private life and I've also noticed that my body isn't feeling 100% any more. I don't have the drive, motivation or fitness to carry on.

"I'm a winner, that's what I do - I lift trophies but I can't do it any more. Maybe there are still a couple of titles left in me and that would be amazing - but I can't do this every week.

"This sport brought me everything I could hope for and I will always be grateful for that."

Van Barneveld has won 29 PDC titles over his career, including two UK Opens, the Grand Slam of Darts and the Premier League.

He also became the first player to achieve a nine-dart finish in both the Premier League in 2006 and the PDC World Championship three years later.

This year's World Championship - Van Barneveld's penultimate chance to win a sixth world title - starts at Alexandra Palace on 13 December, with the final taking place on 1 January 2019.

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67 comments

  • Comment posted by Hey Mikey, at 12:10 19 Nov 2018

    Of the best players ever, a true gent on and off the oche. A fair few of the current crop of players, Price especially, can learn from his example.

  • Comment posted by ajflint, at 12:10 19 Nov 2018

    Good luck Barney Rubble.
    The one dart payer who had the bottle to stand up to Phil Taylor
    Dont care how many down votes I get, second to Taylor in all time list
    (yes, Eric is 3rd)

  • Comment posted by Edmund Dantes, at 12:24 19 Nov 2018

    Happy retirement Raymond, you will be missed.

    A true gentleman which is more than can be said of last nights shenanigans.

  • Comment posted by hackerjack, at 11:51 19 Nov 2018

    Great player at his peak, still not far from threat level now, just everyone else has moved on. Around the turn of the millennium he was the last great BDO champion and in his first few years in the PDC probably the only man who could genuinely get one over on Taylor on a regular basis. The matches that those two had were what really drove the revival of darts in the past 10-15 years

  • Comment posted by Joe, at 11:28 19 Nov 2018

    Love Barney but as Sid would say, recently he has been "as flat as a Dutch mountain range" and "sweating like a donkey in a sauna".

  • Comment posted by Connor McDavid is overrated, at 12:02 19 Nov 2018

    Great player one of the best to have ever played. He was lethal going from T20 to D18. As some have said his best form looks to be behind him.

    Regards the Grand Slam final, Price's behaviour was very close to the line if not over it. He can't keep going on like that, Russ Bray had to warn him on Friday. Anderson however needs to not let things like that bother him, should have won easily.

  • Comment posted by Tom, at 11:27 19 Nov 2018

    A legend, no question.

    Always loved watching Barney, ever since I was a kid and he was in the BDO.

    Will definitely miss him and would love to see him lift a major before he bows out for the last time...

  • Comment posted by TheOriginal, at 11:25 19 Nov 2018

    What a legend....They don't make players like him anymore!! Barney Army fans will be gutted! He will be missed. Enjoy your retirement when it comes around, you definitely deserve it.

  • Comment posted by DrRichie, at 11:59 19 Nov 2018

    Barney always makes it look easier than anyone else. No histrionics just a lovely smooth throw. Enjoy your swansong Barney

  • Comment posted by wrexhamone, at 11:48 19 Nov 2018

    8 Reuss11 Assume you're in Wetherspoons? And by the sounds of the nonsense you speak you've been there since opening

  • Comment posted by Charles G, at 13:47 19 Nov 2018

    Why can’t Price be the one retiring? Can’t stand watching any match he’s involved in. Classless oaf.

  • Comment posted by accris, at 12:33 19 Nov 2018

    When you go Barney, take Price with you! Darts doesn’t need him.

  • Comment posted by U16709439, at 13:20 19 Nov 2018

    I had the delight of meeting Barney at a exhibition match a few years ago. He was always happy to sign shirts and stuff. A great guy and far more of a gent than some of the players about. Happy Retirement Barney

  • Comment posted by Aff, at 12:00 19 Nov 2018

    Barney is the Roger Federer of darts, makes the game look so easy when on song. A tremendous presence at the ockey. Sorry to see you step down big man.

  • Comment posted by asda37, at 11:43 19 Nov 2018

    The definition of a big game player. Legend of the game and a character who will be sorely missed

  • Comment posted by nuke_em_all, at 12:36 19 Nov 2018

    Maybe past his prime but loved the way he could "at times" give taylor a run for his money back in the day. Good luck with the rest of your life.

  • Comment posted by Charlie 1, at 12:18 19 Nov 2018

    Darts not a sport? Second most watched after football on Sky SPORTS.! Bit more skill required than running 100 metres on steroids.

  • Comment posted by Masterbrewer, at 13:52 19 Nov 2018

    Gutted. A true legend. I think his mental fatigue and issues are more the cause than the mechanical. Taylor was the opposite and managed to keep ahead of the mental rigours. Still, one of the greats. The sport will be poorer without him. Cheers Barney

  • Comment posted by Chets3480, at 13:38 19 Nov 2018

    Re 33- Darts is the second most watched sport on Sky so it is clearly something that interests the public and has grown massively over the last 20 years. Even though it is not physical it requires a lot of skill and you have to give credit to the best player in the world who make it look so easy.

  • Comment posted by Kazumi, at 11:56 19 Nov 2018

    @8 If darts is easy and anyone can do it, I look forward to seeing you on the next tour.

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