"For me it became normal. You no longer see how special something is. In those ten months that I had stopped, I started to think about the beautiful things. And there are quite a few. football thinks you quickly think of Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi. People just want their football boots. Well, if Raymond van Barneveld has a darts shop, who better to ask questions than the five-time world champion? " said Van Barneveld to AD.nl.
Tour Card
Early next year, van Barneveld wants to conquer a Tour Card again, but he must first pass Q-School for that. "Exactly, the tournaments I used to hate. But then what am I going to do? Sit on the couch with my phone all day? I'm too young for that."
Nothing to lose
But what if the comeback is disappointing? "I've found the moment in my life when I'm proud of myself. I don't have much more to prove, I just love the game too much. It's been part of my life for 35, 36 years, from a 17- birthday boy until now, 53 years old. You don't just put that aside for a moment. And I did, by stopping. I feel it is not closed properly. I am a different person now. no longer think negative, only positive. And I have nothing more to lose. "
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.