Raymond van Barneveld takes a break from darts and will live partly in England: “Carrying on like this makes no sense whatsoever”

A period of reflection is beginning for Raymond van Barneveld. The five-time world champion has decided to skip a large part of the PDC circuit over the coming months in the hope of rediscovering his form and his enjoyment of darts. After the Players Championship events on Monday and Tuesday in Leicester, the Hague native will deliberately take a step back.

Van Barneveld has been struggling with poor results for some time and speaks openly about the mental battle that comes with it. The former world champion has barely won any matches in recent months and sees his level slipping further and further.

“I still have some exhibitions scheduled. I’ll play those, but otherwise I’m stepping back until September,” Van Barneveld told NU.nl in an interview.

Even so, the Dutchman stresses he will not disappear completely from the scene. “I’ll still pick a few, but I’m going to skip multiple tournaments. Carrying on like this makes no sense whatsoever. Not even if it costs me the World Championship.”

The frustration over his current form comes through loud and clear in Van Barneveld’s words. Long regarded as one of the circuit’s most consistent players, the Hague native has been searching for months for his old level. “My form isn’t just a bit off, it’s completely gone. It’s mega—really mega—bad.”

According to Van Barneveld, the issue is not just on the oche but mainly mental. “Compare me to a footballer. He gets injured, recovers, makes his comeback in the reserves, and slowly returns to the first team. Well, I’m chronically injured, especially mentally, and I can’t recover. Right now it’s incredibly tough for me.”

With that, the Dutchman paints a candid picture of his current situation. In recent months, Van Barneveld has often been asked whether quitting might be the best option, but he is not prepared to go that far for now.

Over the coming months, Van Barneveld wants to use the time to recharge both athletically and personally. His move to England also plays an important role. On May 26, he will get the keys to his new home in Milton Keynes, where he will live with his girlfriend Julia.

“People don’t need to worry that I’m gone for good. My children feared that too. I’ll shuttle between The Hague and England every few weeks. But I won’t rule out settling there if I like it.”

The choice of Milton Keynes is no coincidence. Many PDC events are played in England, and from his new base the travel distances are considerably shorter. “The venue where the floor tournaments in Milton Keynes are held is close by. I’ll get to events much quicker. And Julia is happy about it. By public transport she can be in central London within 25 minutes.”

Van Barneveld is clearly looking forward to his new surroundings. “It’s got five bedrooms and three bathrooms,” he explains. “It’s already fully carpeted and painted, so you can basically move straight in. But you still need to buy a little TV, a sofa, and a small fridge, right.”

Professionally, Van Barneveld is also opting for a new approach. From Milton Keynes he will be close to the office of his new management company, Invictus Darts Management, where he will be guided by Steve Mottershead, former manager of his old rival Phil Taylor.

Van Barneveld hopes that partnership can steer him back toward his old level. “Steve said recently: your head belongs on darts’ Mount Rushmore. You’re one of the four faces of the sport,” said Van Barneveld. “That did open my eyes a bit.”

The Hague native emphasizes that despite all the doubts he is still motivated to end his career on a high. Quitting is not on the table for now. “Because I don’t want to be remembered as the wall of complaints. I want to win tournaments.”

Van Barneveld remains convinced a turnaround is still possible. “It can flip just like that. Although it seems like opponents always bring their A-game against me.”