Van Barneveld or Van Gerwen: who is the best Dutch darts player ever? “He had that aura, he had that arrogance. At the time, the sport needed it"

Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld are the two greatest dart players the Netherlands has ever produced. Van Barneveld put Dutch darts on the map, while Van Gerwen may be the best player in PDC history after Phil Taylor. But which of the two is the greatest Dutch darter of all time? While this might be a tough call for some, former professional Mark Webster has a clear answer: Michael van Gerwen.

‘Mighty Mike’ has won virtually everything there is to win in his career. With 48 major titles he ranks second on the all-time list and dominated the sport for years. His supremacy, however, was not limited to televised tournaments. On the ProTour, Van Gerwen routinely left his opponents with no chance: a record 38 Euro Tour titles and 36 Players Championship wins underscore his dominance in recent years.

Still, there is a name that carries at least as much weight in the Netherlands: Raymond van Barneveld. ‘Barney’ captured no fewer than five world titles — four with the BDO and one with the PDC — with the latter leaving a particularly deep impression.

In the 2007 World Championship final he beat none other than Phil Taylor, by far the best player within the PDC at the time. The match became one of the most legendary in darts history.

At 58, Van Barneveld remains active and regularly qualifies for major PDC tournaments, although he only occasionally goes deep nowadays. His career of more than 36 years deserves great respect regardless.

For Webster, the choice between the two is clear. On the Love the Darts Podcast he explains why Van Gerwen tops his list. “Yeah, Michael, I think,” the Welshman states. “Obviously Raymond was huge in the BDO and came across for that final with Phil Taylor. But for me, I’m looking at it from a fellow player who’s played against him."

According to Webster, Van Gerwen at his peak was simply unstoppable. “He was just unbelievable at times. He had that aura, he had that arrogance. At the time, the sport needed it."

He also praises the Brabant native’s character. “He’s a good guy with it as well, a complete package. I think he conducts himself really well in defeat. He does the right thing, says the right things. He’s been massive for the sport and he’s still got a big part to play."

Although results have been less consistent in recent years, the current world number 4 remains someone to be reckoned with, according to Webster. “As good as Raymond’s been, for me, Michael, watching him as a fellow player, as a fan, he gets me off my seat."

Webster also points to the impact of Van Gerwen’s presence. “I think his emotions, he was the first one to have those big reactions, wasn’t he? Phil Taylor didn’t like it. So yeah, for me, Michael edges it. Barney’s hugely popular in the Netherlands. He probably wins that case. But in terms of the best ever player, it’s Michael for me.”

Analyst Chris Murphy also weighs in on the debate and adds nuance to how achievements are judged. He believes Van Barneveld’s four BDO world titles are too often undervalued in modern discussions. “I don’t think they should be undervalued because at the time that he won them, the difference really was that Phil Taylor was in the PDC."

He points to Van Barneveld’s immediate impact after switching over. “Then he comes over to the PDC, Phil Taylor at his peak, and beats him and gets that fifth world title, his first and only world title in the PDC. I think because they’re both still playing now, they’re kind of judged in the modern era, whereas actually really we’re comparing eras."

Even so, Murphy ultimately leans toward Van Gerwen when it comes to pure quality. “So, I think it’s kind of the cultural impact of what Raymond van Barneveld did versus the pure ability and the stats and the domination that Michael van Gerwen had.”

He continues: “When Phil Taylor was kind of starting to wind down, Van Gerwen emerged and that was huge for darts in its own way as well.”

One interesting detail, according to Murphy, is public opinion in the Netherlands. “The interesting thing is if you go to the Netherlands, Barney’s probably still more popular than van Gerwen, which probably rankles with Michael a little bit.” His conclusion, however, is clear: “I’ll say Van Gerwen.”