"Can't wait to call my wife and tell her I love her!" – Emotional Van Barneveld dramatically keeps Grand Prix hopes alive

The five-time former World Champion Raymond van Barneveld pulled another dramatic escape out of the bag in Basel on Saturday night, edging out Damon Heta 6-5 in the second round of the 2025 Swiss Darts Trophy, to keep his World Grand Prix qualification dream alive.

The legendary Dutch darting icon was on the brink of defeat more than once, surviving a match dart from the Australian before taking out double 10 in the deciding leg to book his spot in the last 16 of the Swiss Darts Trophy.

“It was a rollercoaster,” Van Barneveld admitted afterwards. “That 132 from Damon was dirty. I was waiting, and he hit bull, bull, then 16. I’m thinking, when does this stop, you know? I’ve been struggling for months and asking myself, when is it going to turn my way? After that I told myself, come on, fight, fight, fight, because the World Grand Prix is my focus.”

Heta, known as ‘The Heat’, lived up to his nickname in the opening exchanges. He raced into a 3-1 lead, producing a magical 132 finish on the bullseye to go with an earlier 110 checkout. By the time he stretched his advantage to 4-2, the Australian looked in complete control.

The numbers backed up his display: Heta averaged 95.47 to Van Barneveld’s 98.79, landed six 140s and two maximums, and crucially hit two ton-plus checkouts compared to none from the Dutchman.

But where Barney fell short in the big finishes, he made up for it in resilience.

The five-time World Champion roared back with three consecutive legs, turning a 4-2 deficit into a 5-4 lead. Heta forced the decider, and when Van Barneveld missed tops for the match, the crowd feared the worst.

Heta had a chance to snatch it with a 123 finish, but after leaving himself double nine he couldn’t find the target. Barney seized the reprieve, finding double 10 with his next dart to seal a 6-5 win that keeps his Grand Prix hopes flickering.

“I tried to play well, but for the last two legs I felt pressure all the time, starting with a 60,” Barney said. “I’m so happy with this win, you cannot imagine. I’ve worked hard for this and finally it comes my way, so I’m really pleased.”

The victory sets up a last-16 clash with Ritchie Edhouse, who advanced after Ross Smith’s withdrawal on family grounds. With the Grand Prix qualification line within touching distance, Van Barneveld knows the stakes. “That’s what it’s all about. He’s got the pressure. He had the luck yesterday because Ross Smith didn’t turn up,” Van Barneveld said. “I didn’t beat Damon that much before, maybe only once, so I knew it was going to be a hell of a game for me and I got through it, so I’m really happy. I can’t wait to go back to my room, take a rest, and call my wife, because I’m going to tell her I love her.”