SEARLE STUNS BARNEY! Ryan Searle produces the performance of the tournament so far to make it a losing return for Raymond van Barneveld! 📺 bit.ly/WM23Live | #WMDarts R1
Elimination hits Van Barneveld like a sledgehammer blow: ''Is this all still worth it?''
PDCTuesday, 18 July 2023 at 09:00
Raymond van Barneveld could not crown his comeback at the World Matchplay Monday night with a victory. The Dutchman went down 10-4 against Ryan Searle.
By the way, that was mainly to the credit of Searle, who played an excellent match with an average of 105. Afterwards, Van Barneveld could do nothing but give credit to his opponent.
''I got ahead 1-0 and felt really good. Then he starts playing weird. Well, weird, fantastic throwing of course," the five-time world champion responded afterwards to Viaplay's camera.
''All credits to Ryan. He played insane and I didn't. I was throwing wonderfully the last few days, but now I'm not showing it on stage. Then, of course, you have to wonder why. He kept hitting the triples and throwing everything out. Yes, then you can only bow to him. I had high hopes and a nice draw, but he throws the highest average of all the players here."
Van Barneveld played at the World Matchplay for the first time since 2018. 'Barney' enjoyed his walk-on at the Winter Gardens, but could not hide the fact that the defeat arrived like a sledgehammer blow.
''The reception I got was wonderful, but then when you have to sit down again 10-4, that's just another 'boxing handshake' you get to deal with. It's great that people are behind you, but when you give it your all and you don't win, that comes hard. Maybe it's also another moment when I have to start thinking to myself: is this all still worth it?" mourned Van Barneveld.
''I don't think I've ever thrown that well, but what does that say when you go off like that again. You're just traveling for a tournament like that and then after one game it's done again. Again, that's just a 'boxing punch' that hits hard,'' the Dutch darts pioneer concluded.
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