Van Gerwen calls retirement announcement Van Barneveld a smart move: 'He knows he is going to play Premier League now'

Van Gerwen thought first the decision was made a bit to early, but now he sees the benefits for Van Barneveld. ''The decision was made a long time in advance, but that is also smart'', Van Gerwen told Dutch newspaper . ''Now he knows for hundred percent that he will play in the Premier League Darts, because he will always get an invite to participate in his last season'', the world number one added. The 29-year-old Brabander thinks that his 51-year-old compatriot from The Hague certainly belongs in the Premier League Darts, based on his quality as a player. ''I think he is among the best ten darts players in the world, but in the ranking he is lower and he is therefore dependent on a wildcard from the PDC or Sky Sports.''