“I want a full-firing RvB or I want none of it” – Van Barneveld’s desire called into question by Paul Nicholson following abject World Darts Championship performance

Few voices in darts are as forthright as Paul Nicholson, and when the Australian speaks about commitment at the elite level, it carries weight. Speaking on the Love the Darts podcast, Nicholson delivered a blunt assessment of Raymond van Barneveld in the aftermath of the five-time world champion’s limp exit from the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship.

Van Barneveld’s tournament lasted just one match at Alexandra Palace, where he was beaten 3-0 in the opening round by Switzerland’s Stefan Bellmont. The straight-sets defeat, one of the most one-sided results of the first round, immediately reignited debate around where the Dutch icon now stands in the modern game.

Nicholson, however, framed the discussion around something far more fundamental than age or talent.

“You’re in control of your own life. You are a professional dart player. You know where the tournament’s are, you know how to prepare. You’ve done it for decades. Do you want it or not?” Nicholson said on Sky Sports Love the Darts. “Because if you don’t, you know what to do. There’s a big world out there, you can do anything you want. But if you want this, you’ve got to make it work.”

What appeared to concern Nicholson most was not van Barneveld’s scoring power, but the sense of uncertainty surrounding his game. Against Bellmont, the Dutchman won the opening leg before losing eight of the next nine, struggling to apply pressure or capitalise on finishing opportunities as the match slipped away.

“He looks like he’s confused with his equipment, he’s confused about how to approach games,” Nicholson said. “I love watching Raymond play, but I want a full-firing RvB or I want none of it. Simple as that. If we’re getting this 30% Raymond like the World Championships? Nah. I’m not watching that. I’m not listening to it. But if it’s 75 to 100 percent, yeah.”

Bellmont’s victory was historic for Swiss darts, marking the nation’s first ever win at the PDC World Championship, but the focus inevitably remained on van Barneveld. The contrast between his status as one of the sport’s most decorated figures and the manner of the defeat only sharpened the reaction.

Importantly, Nicholson stopped short of writing van Barneveld off. Instead, he pointed to recent evidence that the fire can still burn brightly when everything clicks.

“The game with Chris Dobey at the Dutch Darts Masters last year, taking out a big finish to win 6-5. That’s the Barney I want. That’s the Barney that everyone wants,” Nicholson said. “Nobody wants the World Championship Barney from that.”

That narrow win over Dobey showed a version of van Barneveld capable of delivering under pressure, underlining why frustration now follows him rather than indifference. The ability remains, but consistency and clarity appear increasingly elusive.

For Nicholson, the message was ultimately stark. Van Barneveld’s legacy ensures expectations will never be lowered, and with that comes an uncompromising verdict. Either the full-firing version returns, or the uncomfortable questions around desire and direction will only grow louder.