VAN BARNEVELD COULD RETIRE WITHIN TWO YEARS AS HEALTH BATTLE CONTINUES

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD has admitted he could quit darts within the next two years as he battles ongoing health issues.

Barney has endured a difficult campaign, failing to reach a ProTour quarter-final and suffering first-round exits in all four European Tour events he has played this year.

The five-time world champ has now revealed he may not have much longer left in the sport as the next generation of stars begin to emerge.

Speaking about the future of Dutch darts, Van Barneveld said:  “I did my things. Michael [van Gerwen] did his things for Holland as well and for TV.

“That is why it is important others take over. Maybe I am going to give up in the next two years.

“So, it is very important for Dutch TV that more players come around and they play well, like Wessel Nijman and Kevin Doets right now.

“They play some really quality games. Look at Wessel on the floor right now, wow.

“If you want to keep the TV companies happy, especially in Holland, it is important the Dutch players are doing well.”

Van Barneveld has slipped down the rankings in recent months and admits he is still searching for answers.

The 59-year-old recently received the keys to a new home in Milton Keynes and hopes relocating closer to the heart of the PDC circuit can help revive his fortunes.

He told the Darts Show: “I can’t really say what is going on. I try and do my best every time I am at home practising.

“The travelling takes its toll. Of course, the early days at the ProTours. I can’t tell you what is really going on.

“That is why I said I am going to have a break now. Today I got the keys for my house in Milton Keynes.

“So that saves me more energy travel-wise. I also have new management in England, Invictus, with Steve.

“I think living in the UK is better for me so I can do more work and exhibitions and stuff like this more often.

“Hopefully I can find my way back because I am not giving up yet.

“But it is tough. You spend a lot of time travelling and you lay on your bed.

“You are there at events at 10am and if you get beat at 1:30, you go back to your hotel room thinking, what is going on? What is going wrong?

“I will do all I can because we all know an in-form Raymond van Barneveld can do damage.

“But I need to have a small break. Maybe for one or two months.

“I’m still going to play the ProTours. I am not in the World Matchplay and in some of the Euro Tours because I am dropping down the rankings.”

The world No39 insists his priority is making sure he qualifies for the World Championship.

Van Barnveled also admitted diabetes continues to affect his performances, particularly during early starts at Players Championship events.

He continued: “I’m not in a position to say I can skip tournaments. We all know the situation for the ProTour rankings. I’m not in the Matchplay, I’m not in the Grand Prix.

“I’m not in the Euros, so you need to save some ranking points. Otherwise you are going downhill and the biggest nightmare is not qualifying for the Worlds.

“So I am going to do all and everything I can with my new management, who give me good positive vibes to move ahead.

“But these floor tournaments are trouble for me because it is too early. I don’t want to talk about it all the time, but diabetes is still there.

“It’s harder to concentrate. I have blurred vision. I have cold hands sometimes, especially in the morning. It is hard for me to focus.”

Image by Taylor Lanning.