BARNEY BLASTED OVER AWFUL FORM

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD has “got no business at the PDC” right now, according to ex-pro Vincent van der Voort.

‘Barney’ has registered just ONE win in six ProTour games this season, with not a single 90-plus average to his name.

The five-time world champ also failed to qualify for the opening two European Tour events. 

Van der Voort admits it is tough watching a player he grew up admiring fall so far off the pace. 

He told the Darts Draait Door Podcast: “Is it missing him? Yes? I grew up with Raymond as a top player.  

“He kept getting better and became the best in the Netherlands, but seeing him like this feels more difficult than that I miss him.” 

The former UK Open finalist says he wants to see Van Barneveld rediscover his fighting spirit on stage. 

He added: “That he’s up there to win again and only afterwards decides whether it was good or bad.  

“Sometimes now, after just two warm-up visits, he starts complaining. I don’t miss it if I don’t have to see that anymore.” 

World No.36 Van Barneveld has managed to qualify for the Belgium Darts Open and the German Darts Grand Prix. 

Van der Voort has made it clear those appearances must now count. 

He continued: “That’s going to be very important, because the rest of his season start is awful.  

“I think he’s only won one round. It’s not there yet. Something really has to change. 

“I hope he can work a bit more on his form. As it is now… In the last five/six matches he hasn’t topped an 82 average.  

“That’s really the bottom, you know. An 80 average, lots of players can do that. Then you’ll regularly get a hiding.  

“Then you’ve got no business at the PDC. You must throw ninety-plus on the Tour. Right now he’s ten points under that, which is a lot.”

Image by Taylor Lanning.