"I found it very intense because I had promised her" – Jerry Hendriks reflects on emotional clash with Van Barneveld after the death of his mother

A return to the big stage had long seemed off the table for Jerry Hendriks. The former World Championship participant had largely focused on his work as a darts analyst, but in 2025 he suddenly stepped back under the spotlight. His Euro Tour appearance in Rosmalen also carried a deeply emotional weight due to personal circumstances.

Hendriks had unexpectedly qualified for the home event and drew Raymond van Barneveld in the first round. A few years earlier, that pairing would have been compelling mainly for sporting reasons. This time, far more was at play for Hendriks. Shortly before the tournament, his mother had passed away.

Even so, the Dutchman—now better known as an analyst—decided not to withdraw. He had promised his mother he would take to the stage in Rosmalen. "I found it very intense because I had promised her," Hendriks said on the podcast Darts Draait Door.

Together with his father, Hendriks chose to make it a special day despite the grief. "But back then, together with my father, I consciously tried to take in every moment, enjoy it, and still make something beautiful out of it," said Hendriks. "Because, you know, I am a bon vivant."

For Hendriks, the tournament also marked his first outing on the PDC ProTour in six years. The Dutchman had previously made a name for himself with his striking walk-on. At the 2017 World Championship, his high-energy entrance had Alexandra Palace on its feet before he eventually bowed out to Peter Wright.

That familiar side of Hendriks surfaced again in Rosmalen. Yet the situation was completely different this time. "The moment that walk-on kicked in, I just wanted to try to enjoy it. And to deliver my best."

He did better than many might have expected. Van Barneveld had to dig deep to shake off his compatriot. Only after eleven legs did the decision fall the way of the five-time world champion: 6-5.

Hendriks himself hadn’t anticipated such a tight match. His preparation had been far from ideal. "I wasn't in shape. I hadn't trained much, if at all, so you can't really expect to put in a top performance."

Vincent van der Voort also witnessed Hendriks’s performance up close. The former pro saw how his compatriot was visibly moved by the circumstances at his introduction, but then managed to flip the switch during his trademark walk-on.

"During the announcement, you first saw the emotional Jerry, and then the baseline kicks in and the crazy Jerry comes out again," said Van der Voort.

The match against Van Barneveld could well get a sequel. Although Hendriks now operates mainly off the oche, Van der Voort has not written him off as a player. With several qualifiers on Dutch soil, opportunities still remain, he believes. "For the Euro Tour Maastricht and the World Championship Qualifier, Jerry is always a candidate to be reckoned with," he concluded.