"He is someone who draws the energy to himself and demands things" - Collaboration with Raymond van Barneveld was not a success for Jeffrey de Zwaan

Jeffrey de Zwaan was known for years as one of the greatest talents in the PDC. However, partly due to injury problems, the now 28-year-old Dutchman lost his PDC Tour Card early this year.

De Zwaan partnered with Raymond van Barneveld under the same management several years ago. However, that did not turn out to be the best choice. "He is someone who draws the energy to himself and demands things," De Zwaan told the podcast Darts Draait Door. "I get snowed under quickly, I like everything led by myself. That has been to my disadvantage."

Read also

"There was a lot of pressure on my son, I underestimated that" - Vincent van der Voort looks back on participation in pairs tournament Dutch Open Darts

Thus, De Zwaan cites an example of something that played to his disadvantage. "Raymond had to go to Q-School in the spring of 2021 to earn back his Tour Card and that was in the same period as the TV tournament The Masters, which De Zwaan competed in as a top player. Iwe Kuitert was my coach in the years when things were going well, but that tournament he went with Raymond instead of me. I also said, 'yeah yeah, fine.' I may have been too easy about that."

Raymond van Barneveld, with whom Jeffrey de Zwaan was in the same management for many years

Second violin

Vincent van der Voort, who like De Zwaan lost his PDC Tour Card early this year, had seen the problems coming. "Jeffrey is not a talker, but in his head is that it is not good. Raymond is not someone who can play second fiddle. I said right away it would be difficult," Van der Voort said.

Still, De Zwaan does not want to blame Van Barneveld that his performance in recent years was below expectations. "That's also because I didn't perform because of shoulder problems. That's not Raymond's fault. He is like that and is used to it being all about him."

"Jeffrey got pushed away too much, but that is also a learning moment," Van der Voort concluded.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Unlock your ultimate darts experience—subscribe today for exclusive access to top stories.

Subscribe