Fresh from Raymond van Barneveld split, Ben de Kok commits future to Jeffrey de Zwaan in new deal

Jeffrey de Zwaan has confirmed he will continue working with manager Ben de Kok after agreeing a contract extension, in a move that comes just weeks after De Kok’s high profile split from Raymond van Barneveld.

The Dutch player shared the news on Instagram, posting a photo of the pair seated together with contract papers in front of them as the deal was signed. “It’s not just because it’s his birthday. I thank this man for the trust he has shown in me and for the loyalty between us. That’s why we have extended our contract today! In the coming years, we will continue striving for progress. Together, we want to achieve great things. Congratulations, Ben de Kok.”

The timing matters for De Zwaan, who is in the middle of a return to the top level of the Professional Darts Corporation. After drifting out of the spotlight in recent seasons, he battled through Q-School at the start of the year to secure a Tour Card again, putting “The Black Cobra” back among the sport’s elite.

Long seen as a player with clear potential, his career has not always followed a smooth path. With De Kok remaining in his corner, the focus now shifts to building on that comeback and pushing towards the top end of the PDC circuit.

The renewed deal also lands against the backdrop of De Kok’s recent break from Van Barneveld, a partnership that had lasted for years and played a key role in the five-time world champion’s career.

That relationship came to an abrupt end in March 2026 following a dispute between the two. According to Jaco van Bodegom, tensions escalated after an incident around a match.

“I think I was sort of in the middle of it live,” Van Bodegom said on the Darts Draait Door podcast. “Raymond had won his match and lashed out a bit in the app towards Ben. He said things he probably shouldn’t have said. That hit Ben hard, which I can understand, and it made him think: I’m done with it.”