Van Barneveld ashamed of past behaviour: "I know I can be a really bad person"

Raymond van Barneveld continues to have a chance to qualify for the latter stages of the Grand Slam of Darts after easing past Joe Davis 5-0 in his second group match.

He discussed that win as well as his return from his brief retirement and the circumstances around that.

"This is what you want. I know I retired because I wasn't myself anymore, the last years in my career were bad, private problems. I said I'm going to give up because I'm a nightmare for everyone around me. Then a couple months later Corona was there, I couldn't do any exhibitions and I was divorcing and all. I was thinking what to do next, I was bored," said Van Barneveld post match.

"Got my Tour Card back and then Bolton came. It's not easy. ProTour is really tough, many good players and at the end the will to win is always there. I'm happy to be back on stage."

He was also asked about whether his return would have happened with Covid not in the mix but he said ultimately darts will always be his life.

"I was never really happy with the decision. Darts is my life, I cannot live without darts. You always have the feeling maybe you're gonna come back but I never thought I'd come back after one year. Life is full of surprises."

But can he return to his best, his lofty ambitions aren't there yet.

"It's hard to say right now. It's your first TV tournament this year so I'm not going to say I'm gonna win this tournament, I'm gonna win the World's. I don't think I can."

A recent talking point was his exclusion from the World Series of Darts Finals lineup and he took his opportunity to thank the PDC for all opportunities he has been given while also apologising.

"I wasn't really expecting it. It would have been nice to play for the Dutch crowd but at the end, it's not a ranked event. But the PDC took the top four players in the world, I had my chances to say thank you to the PDC and I still do.

"They gave me wildcards for the Premier League and the World Series and I want to say thank you and sorry for my behaviour in these last years as I know I can be a really bad person. I want to go further now and show my best for the next 3-5 years."