MVG VS BARNEY: WHO IS THE GREATEST DUTCH PLAYER OF ALL TIME?

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN has been backed as the greatest Dutch darts player of all time.

‘Mighty Mike’ has racked up 48 major titles, the second most in history, and defined an era of brutal consistency and brilliance. 

MVG has won a record 38 Euro Tour titles and 36 Players Championship events, underlining his relentless dominance on the ProTour as well. 

But his compatriot Raymond van Barneveld boasts a stunning FIVE world crowns, four in the BDO and a famous fifth in the PDC, where he toppled Phil Taylor at the height of his powers. 

The world No.37 has enjoyed a remarkable 36-year career, underlining his incredible longevity as he continues to qualify for the majority of PDC Premier events even at the age of 58. 

Former pro Mark Webster insists Van Gerwen is the best he has seen, pointing to his “unbelievable” level, commanding aura and those loud, emotional celebrations that brought a new edge to the sport. 

He told the Love the Darts Podcast: “Yeah, Michael, I think. 

“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. 

“He was just unbelievable at times. He had that aura, he had that arrogance. At the time, the sport needed it. 

“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. I think, OK, it’s not gone to plan the last few years, but he’s still there or thereabouts.  

“Yeah, as good as Raymond’s been, for me, Michael, watching him as a fellow player, as a fan, he gets me off my seat. 

“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.” 

Pundit Chris Murphy believes Van Barneveld’s achievements are often undervalued in modern debates. 

Murphy pointed to Barney’s iconic switch and instant impact as proof of his greatness. 

But when it comes to pure ability, Murphy admits the argument starts to swing. 

He added: “I think quite often that people are kind of judging darts purely on the modern era and therefore kind of undervalue the four BDO world titles that Raymond van Barneveld won. 

“But 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. That was kind of it, wasn’t it? 

“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. 

“Barneveld at his peak was a different era to Michael van Gerwen at his peak.  

“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.  

“I would still lean towards Michael because I just think that time, 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.

“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.  

“But yeah, so if you ask Dutch people, they might say Barneveld. I’ll say Van Gerwen.”

Image by Taylor Lanning.