"I understand you get thousands of text messages but I'm not just anyone" - Raymond van Barneveld put off regular contact with Luke Littler by lack of replies

Luke Littler recently indicated that Raymond van Barneveld has always been an inspiration to him. But in his own words, "Barney" has seen extremely little of that.

He calls 17-year-old Littler a very quiet boy, with whom he can hardly make contact. The latter surprises him. Van Barneveld heard that he was Littler's idol and therefore decided to message him sometimes, but at certain points he hasn’t received a response.

“So that's the weird thing about it. I then understood that I am one of is idols. I can understand why you don't talk at the World Championship, but at other tournaments... I recently walked up to him to shake his hand, then he takes off his earplugs and only says the essentials."

Van Barneveld decided to take a different tack and text him. "He responded: yes, I only respond to text messages. I don't actually use WhatsApp. Well, fine, I sent a text message: congratulations on Wieze. And then unfortunately still no message back here either.''

Unfortunately, I was a little bit disappointed about it. Because; how nice it is to have contact with one of your idols. Perhaps also exchange advice and learn something from your idol. My thoughts a few days later were "leave it then, when he isn’t responding back!"

"I understand that you receive thousands of text messages, but of course I am not just anyone. If I have been your source of inspiration for years, then I also expect a text message in return." Laughing, Van Barneveld says: "Guy spends all day on his phone, leave it then!"