"Most people don't even recognize me anymore" - Raymond van Barneveld notices focus shifting to new generation

The 2025 PDC World Darts Championship is in full swing and before too long Raymond van Barneveld will make his return to the Ally Pally stage. The 57-year-old Dutchman is no longer considered amongst the contenders and 'Barney' does notice that the attention is mostly focused on others these days.

"Most people don't even recognize me anymore," the five-time world champion begins with a laugh in conversation with De Telegraaf. "Really, I go through it seriously. Then they recognize something and ask: are you by any chance a colleague? Then I ask if they also happen to be a professional dart player. I also have to explain to quite a few people if I still play darts, yes or no. Since it's no longer broadcast on the open net, a lot of people don't see you anymore."

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Van Barneveld used to be known for reacting rather emotionally after a loss. Yet in recent years, "Barney" has been able to let this go a little easier and enjoys it more. "But I said some stupid things back then, as a young man. There are people lying around fighting for their lives and I lost a darts game," he is referring to a 2019 interview in which he said that "Life had no meaning anymore."

"And I still blame myself for everything, you know. That never changes in my head. What does change is that of course it hasn't been about me for a long time. It used to be about Phil (Taylor, ed.), Gary (Anderson, ed.), Michael (van Gerwen, ed.) and me, but I'm not on a poster anymore. There is no one taking into account that Raymond van Barneveld is going to take that world title for a while."

But despite the fact that the Dutchman may no longer be among the absolute best in darts, something still happens when Van Barneveld comes to play and Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger" echoes through the Alexandra Palace. Such was the case against Luke Littler at last year's World Championship. "That match was coming up and everyone gave me a chance anyway, because I was playing well. Nobody knew how it was going to go, but then the man with the hammer came and it became 4-1."

Whether Van Barneveld can actually pull off a shock remains to be seen. But the confidence is certainly not lacking: "Last week I just threw 180 four times in a row. That's not normal, right? I haven't done that all my life. Then I think: hell, Ray, it's still there, with your 57 years."

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