"I tell myself every day that I’ll make it" – Raymond van Barneveld refuses to retire with World Darts Championship hopes hanging on by a thread
PDC
Crucial days lie ahead for Raymond van Barneveld. The five-time world champion must avoid missing out on a World Darts Championship place when he competes in the final two Players Championship events in Leicester next week. The 59-year-old from The Hague sits just above the Pro Tour qualification cut-off and can barely afford another slip.
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Van Barneveld can no longer take his place at the World Championship for granted. If he drops one more spot on the ProTour Order of Merit, he will fall outside the positions that earn direct entry to the tournament at Alexandra Palace. For a seasoned player who has appeared at the World Championship 33 times, that was almost unthinkable for many years.
“I’ll manage it,” Van Barneveld assured NOS. Still, he admits the pressure is mounting as the decisive events approach. “I’ve never been in this situation before. I usually qualify for the World Championship with ease every year, but next week in Leicester, I really have to get the job done.”
Van Barneveld knows his career has entered a new phase
The Dutchman has been one of the best-known faces in darts for more than three decades. He made his World Championship debut with the BDO in 1991, then won the title in 1998, 1999, 2003 and 2005. In 2007, he claimed his fifth world title, this time with the PDC.
After retiring in 2019, Van Barneveld missed the 2021 World Championship. He then returned to the top level, but now has to fight harder and harder to hold his place among the best players.
“Of course it hurts,” the former world champion admits. Reaching the upcoming World Championship would therefore feel like a significant personal achievement. “I’d be proud if I made it in the end. I’d definitely give myself a pat on the back.”
As he prepares for the decisive events, Van Barneveld is focusing above all on his mental state. The Hague native has often struggled with negative thoughts in the past, but is now trying to deal with them differently.
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“I meditate and listen to music for that. I try to push down the gloom. I’ve also sought help. I’m very grateful to my lovely wife, family and friends, who continue to believe in me. But in the end, when you step up to the oche, you have to do it alone.”
Van Barneveld has won the world title no fewer than five times.
Emotional after documentary about Marco van Basten
Van Barneveld recognises the mental struggle that comes with elite sport in other top athletes, too. The documentary BASTA, about former football great Marco van Basten, made a particularly strong impression on him.
“I watched the series BASTA, and it really shook me. I shed a tear because I recognised so much of myself in it,” he said.
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“People so easily overlook everything someone goes through, and how lonely it can be. Van Basten was my idol and, at times, the best in the world. He had to deal with injuries and operations, and people have an opinion about that without knowing what it does to someone.”
Van Basten’s perfectionism is something the darts player particularly relates to. “If he had scored four times, he thought he should have scored six. In other words, you can always do better. I’ve always felt the same way.”
On Wednesday and Thursday, Van Barneveld will have the chance to secure his World Championship place at the floor events in Leicester. He knows that not only his own form, but also the draw, could play a key role. “My manager keeps stressing that, too, but I’m no longer the player I once was,” Van Barneveld says of the confidence he needs to maintain.
Above all, the five-time world champion hopes to avoid a tough opponent in the opening round. “If Mr Luke Littler turns up in Leicester, which is entirely possible, you could draw him in the first round. You can understand why you’d rather face the world number 88.”
Despite his precarious position, Van Barneveld is trying to convince himself that he will be at Alexandra Palace again this year. “I tell myself every day that I’ll make it.”
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Van Barneveld will not retire even if he misses the World Championship
If he fails to qualify directly, Van Barneveld will have one final chance to reach the World Championship. He can still try to earn a place through a separate qualifying event in England. “There’s still a little qualifying tournament in England, and I’ll give it everything I’ve got there.”
Darts fans should not expect another retirement announcement, at least. Van Barneveld is determined to continue his career, whatever happens in the coming weeks.
“I’ll never say again that I’m quitting. Of course, I’ll be hugely disappointed if I miss the World Championship, but I’ll simply watch the tournament on television. And next year, I’ll keep playing and defend my Tour Card.”
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He already has an alternative plan for the Christmas period. “I’ll go to Disneyland with my children. I’ve already booked it for around Christmas, but if I’m still in the World Championship then, they’ll go without me. You understand that.”
Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
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