Legendary Raymond van Barneveld bids tearful adieu to darts

Five-Time world darts champion Raymond Van Barneveld decided to call it a day on Thursday after the Dutchman suffered a humiliating 7-1 defeat against his compatriot Michael Van Gerwen in Rotterdam. The crushing defeat that marked the end of the glittering Premier League Darts career of Van Barneveld, who later admitted his recent slumping form had left him feeling “ashamed”.

In an interview by British broadcasters Sky Sports, the 51-year-old remarked: “I'm not good enough. And I can say to myself, 'OK Ray take some Time off' but there is not Time because at the end of the year you want to go to the world championship.”

The man, popularly known as ‘Barney' had announced in November he would retire after the end-of-year PDC World Championship held at Alexandra Palace in London. However, a series of lackluster shows compelled the prolific Durch dart man to adVance his retirement plan.

Raymond Van Barneveld celebrates winning the finals of the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship at The Circus Tavern, January 1, 2007. /VCG Photo

Van Barneveld, who was in tears when he faced Van Gerwen, has been the winner of four BDO world titles, one PDC world crown, two UK Open titles, the Las Vegas Desert Classic, the Grand Slam of Darts and the Premier League, just to name a few in his glittering career.

“I can't go back from scratch, I can't go back from playing these Pro Tours or Euro Tours because I'm suffering every single week and I don't like these tournaments so for me I've made a decision, I'm done now,” he said.

Van Barneveld also informed that he would not try to qualify for the next world championship as he added: “I don't want the pain anymore. It's good to say that everyone loves you but they don't have one single clue what I'm going through. It's pain every single week for the last three or four years.”