DARTS ACE QUESTIONS VAN BARNEVELD’S MENTALITY

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD’S decision to skip the World Masters qualifiers has been branded “unworthy” by Vincent van der Voort.

World No.36 Van Barneveld stunned the darts world by choosing to play an exhibition at FC Twente instead of fighting for a place in the first major of the year. 

Former pro Van der Voort questioned the decision and suggested it was not befitting of a player of Van Barneveld’s stature. 

‘The Dutch Destroyer’ believes the move exposes Van Barneveld’s self-doubt and a clear lack of confidence at the oche.

He told the Darts Draait Door Podcast: “I do have a problem with it.  

“I understand his reasoning on the one hand that he’s going for guaranteed money, but this is also a ranking event, right?  

“No one has anything to defend and he’s immediately one tournament behind the rest.

“I get that he can pocket a lot of money at FC Twente in two days, but this is a TV ranking.  

“Win three rounds and he already bags £5,000, with a chance at much more. His sponsors won’t like this either. All in all, a remarkable choice. 

“It shows where Raymond is mentally. He doesn’t feel good enough to win a qualifier. 

“I expected him to say that should have been doable. Apparently he’s not there mentally yet.  

“So his season only starts in two weeks. He’ll really have to perform well in the first few tournaments and hope to qualify for the Euro Tour, otherwise it will be a long year.” 

Van der Voort also warned that exhibition events can negatively impact the five-time world champion’s performance. 

He added: “I think he’s really thinking about guaranteed money, and anything he picks up around it is a bonus. 

“They cost a lot of energy. You start your pro events around them already tired and on the back foot, especially at his age.  

“He’s clearly choosing guaranteed money and that’s a shame to see. How his endgame is unfolding is something you’d never have expected from him.  

“This is unworthy of Van Barneveld. But due to circumstances it has to be, for him it’s a financial matter.” 

Van Barneveld has failed to make a quarter-final at a PDC Premier event for two years.  

Van der Voort believes change is essential if Van Barneveld is to revive his career. 

He continued: “We don’t need to feel sorry for him, because he still earns a lot of money.  

“But it’s a pity to see him like this, compared to everything he achieved in the past. It’s not taken very seriously anymore now.  

“He was always among the favorites or the dark horses for a title, that’s no longer the case.  

“In the past three years he hasn’t won a round at major tournaments. That’s very sad.  

“That something needs to change is clear. Hopefully Rafael van der Vaart can make a difference, that would be nice.”

Image by Taylor Lanning.