Van Barneveld on changing mindset in darting comeback: "I'm still learning to love myself everyday"

Raymond van Barneveld has now returned to the PDC for six months and he looks back with satisfaction and also looks forward to the rest of the year with confidence.

Van Barneveld actually did not think of a return until his current coach Iwe Kuitert persuaded him during a good conversation. "I had time to think about everything during the pandemic. Because of corona, all those exhibitions were canceled, so I had to do something," said Van Barneveld at Sportnieuws.

That return came as a complete surprise to many of his fans. "I understand that, on the other hand: nobody saw corona coming either. That I returned for the money is correct somewhere, because the chimney must eventually continue to smoke and life is simply expensive. Especially after a year when things like a divorce happen."

"Obviously I've earned well over the years, although those were different amounts at the time than today," says 'Barney'. "But when Gerwyn Price became world champion at the beginning of this year, he took half a million! When I won the World Championship, I had 32,000. Also nice, but that doesn't mean you resign from your boss."

At the beginning of this year, Van Barneveld again obtained a Tour Card at the PDC Q-School. "Miraculously, a little later I won my 1st tournament since 2013. Really, what can happen after hard work and a lot of faith in yourself. I am still learning to love myself every day. After a defeat I always drilled myself in the ground and put my feelings in a corner."

Even after great successes, Van Barneveld remained very strict with himself. "Then I said: 'you are not the best', when I compared my 5 world titles against Phil Taylor's 16. If I then talk and think so negatively about myself, nothing good comes out of it, while I always have a fighting spirit and showed resilience. That just had to change."

The now 54-year-old Dutchman no longer wants to impose unrealistic expectations on himself. "I think that's also something that has come with the years. You get older, more realistic. Look, this current dart year is going well with and for me. I'm going to make myself heard, only becoming number 1 in the world is not possible. For example, placing a goal like myself for the World Championship is possible."