Van Barneveld is working intensively on comeback: 'I have never actually done it that way'

In a few weeks, Raymond van Barneveld will start his comeback. He is participating in the Q-School, where he hopes to win a PDC Tour Card.

Read also

Van Barneveld returns: Dutchman following in footsteps of sports icons who made comebacks

In the meantime, Van Barneveld is working hard to get into top shape for this event in Leverkusen.

"It is quite intensive, you know. We train two, three times a week here and two, three times in my building in The Hague. We start exercising at nine, then eat a sandwich and train from one to four. '' says the five-time world champion against the NOS.

For the doyen of Dutch darts, he is anything but used to that strict training regime. "Actually, I never did that like that. I actually always did what I wanted."

A Tour Card is needed to lead to a return to the Pro Tour circuit. With these tournaments, Van Barneveld can try to claim qualification for the major tournaments again. "Often when I see the level of today, I think: wow, how good! But then I forget for a moment that I was playing at that level myself."

The big goal for Barney is qualifying for the next World Championship, which starts in December 2021. "How many of the 96 participants actually think they can lift that trophy? There are, I think, ten. I can still be one of those. "

Read also

Five-time world champion Van Barneveld makes comeback on PDC circuit in 2021