BARNEY BLASTS SCHEDULE AND DROPS RETIREMENT HINT
22/09/2025 By Aaron Nijjar
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD has branded darts’ hectic calendar “murder” and hints retirement could soon be on the cards.
Five-times world champ Van Barneveld has struggled at the oche this year after reaching just ONE quarter-final on the ProTour at Players Championship 10.
The Dutchman has dropped out of the world’s top 32 with his form off and results wayward.
‘Barney’ says he cannot afford to pick and choose tournaments like some of his rivals and warned it may force him to finally call it a day if his performances worsen.
He said: “At the moment, I’m 58, so I’m thinking about 60, 61, but if I still like it, why not continue?
“I gave up a couple of years ago and I really missed it. I must be honest, the schedule is murder at the moment.
“It’s really a lot because the PDC organises the Pro Tours mid-week. Normally, it was on the weekend, the Pro Tour, then one weekend later, a Euro tour, or a major and never the Pro Tours midweeks.
“Now they do the Pro Tours midweek and on the weekend, the Euro Tours or Majors. So it’s really a lot.
“I heard a lot of players complaining and they skip sometimes when it’s possible, but I’m not in a position to skip, because I’m number 34 in the world at the moment so I need to play all and everything and hoping for good results.
“If I have the feeling I can’t continue anymore, that I can’t win my first rounds anymore, on the Pro Tour as well then that will probably be the last of me.”
Van Barneveld is eager to set up his own coaching school once he finally decides to hang up the darts.
He added: “I’m thinking I’m going to give online courses but I still have to work it out how.
“But it looks nice for me, maybe players from Singapore, or New Zealand, or wherever they come from, and they can join in for lessons.
“I can ask for a subscription fee, maybe monthly, and then answer their questions, and help them with setups and stuff, so maybe that’s a good idea and a little bit of TV work. And doing exhibitions.”
RVB impressed at the Hungarian Darts Trophy last weekend, cruising past Nandor Major 6-2 before producing a superb 107 average in a 6-1 demolition of Dave Chisnall in round two.
But Van Barneveld’s run ended in the last 16, where he fell 6-2 to Gerwyn Price.
Image by Taylor Lanning.
