“Then you’ll just get your backside kicked on a regular basis” – Vincent van der Voort taken aback by Raymond van Barneveld’s level at the start of the season

Raymond van Barneveld’s absence from the Euro Tour in Poland did not go unnoticed. For the first time in a long while, the five-time world champion missed a regular Euro Tour weekend. The Hague native failed to qualify automatically or via the qualifier for the circuit’s opening block. It underscores the sporting decline he is currently experiencing.

The topic was discussed extensively in the Darts Draait Door podcast. Host Damian Vlottes said he missed Van Barneveld on stage. Former pro and close friend Vincent van der Voort, however, added a caveat. “Is it missing him? Yes? I grew up with Raymond as a top player. He kept getting better and became the best in the Netherlands, but seeing him like this feels more difficult than that I miss him.”

According to Van der Voort, it is not about sentiment but about level. Van Barneveld’s current form concerns him. The former World Championship finalist would rather see a battling Van Barneveld, someone competing for trophies instead of struggling with his game.

“That he’s up there to win again and only afterwards decides whether it was good or bad. Sometimes now, after just two warm-up visits, he starts complaining. I don’t miss it if I don’t have to see that anymore.”

The numbers back up Van der Voort. Van Barneveld made a poor start to the season and has barely won any matches so far. He did qualify for Euro Tour 3 and 4, meaning he will return to action this spring on the second tier of the PDC circuit. Those tournaments will be crucial for how the rest of his year unfolds.

Van der Voort is clear about that: “That’s going to be very important, because the rest of his season start is awful. I think he’s only won one round. It’s not there yet. Something really has to change. I hope he can work a bit more on his form. As it is now... In the last five/six matches he hasn’t topped an 82 average. That’s really the bottom, you know. An 80 average, lots of players can do that. Then you’ll regularly get a hiding. Then you’ve got no business at the PDC. You must throw ninety-plus on the Tour. Right now he’s ten points under that, which is a lot.”

The conclusion is harsh but clear: if Van Barneveld wants to be relevant at the highest level, his average must rise significantly. In the current PDC field, an average below ninety is not enough to compete consistently. The upcoming Euro Tours will therefore be not only a sporting challenge, but possibly also a barometer for his future on the pro circuit.