"It really shocks me. Normally, he doesn't lose these matches" - Van Barneveld shares concerns over recent form of Van Gerwen

Raymond van Barneveld made a solid start to his 2024 Players Championship Finals campaign on Friday night in Minehead. The Dutch darting icon triumphed 6-2 over his compatriot Chris Landman in the opening round, averaging just shy of the 100 mark.

Not all of the big names in Dutch darts fared quite so well though. Michael van Gerwen for example was handed another disappointing early exit, this time at the hands of Ian White on Friday night. In his post-match press conference, Van Barneveld shared his surprise and concern at the recent form of his compatriot, great friend and rival.

"I don't know what's going on. The last two weeks, I'm playing exhibitions against him and he was fantastic, hitting everything. Maybe he's doing too many exhibitions, I don't know? You have to ask Michael himself," Van Barneveld ponders in conversation with Online Darts. "I'm not here to talk about Michael, I'm here to talk about myself and I'm fine. But it really shocks me."

At the recent Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton, it was a group stage exit for Van Gerwen as Ryan Joyce prevailed in a winner takes all 3rd group game, and now Ian White has ended 'Mighty Mike's hopes. According to Van Barneveld, it's not just the fact Van Gerwen is losing that's concerning, it's the manner of the defeats and the players the three time world champion is being bettered by.

"Normally, he doesn't lose these matches against Ian White or Ryan Joyce, you know, for, well, to be honest, he doesn't," Van Barneveld assesses, hinting at a difficult trip to Alexandra Palace this December for his fellow Dutchman. "Yeah, losing here in the first round, it must be hard for him to do well in the Worlds."