Raymond van Barneveld and Michael van Gerwen are far from their glory days. On Monday, the two will face each other again at the World Matchplay after a long time. “A prestige battle? I’m not worthy to clean his shoes,” says Van Barneveld.
Van Barneveld doesn’t need to think for a second when asked if there is a prestige battle against Van Gerwen to be the best Dutchman. “No, I lost that battle a long time ago, of course,” says the five-time world champion in an interview.
“If you look at the world titles, then I should be the man,” continues the 58-year-old from The Hague. “But if you purely look at what he has achieved, then I’m not worthy to clean his shoes.”
The 36-year-old Van Gerwen laughs when he hears about the statements of his compatriot. “He is a realist, isn’t he?” reacts the three-time world champion. “Raymond has been the founder of darts in the Netherlands, that’s very simple.”
“But I have been Raymond’s biggest nightmare in the Netherlands. That after my performances, people are still asking about a battle of who is the best Dutchman… Those people don’t understand it.”
World Matchplay is an important tournament
The World Matchplay is the most prestigious tournament on the darts calendar after the World Championship. The tournament started on Saturday and lasts until next Sunday. The match between Van Barneveld and Van Gerwen is on Monday evening.
Barney texted Van Gerwen: ‘I would never let him down’
Van Barneveld and Van Gerwen both agree: everything must give way for their performances. They don’t care who they play against. Yet the two are also happy with the bond they have.
For example, Van Barneveld recently contacted Van Gerwen, who divorced his wife Daphne. Van Gerwen, who is far from his top level, took a darts break. But in the meantime, the (gossip) press wrote continuously about the backgrounds of his breakup.
“For him, this was probably the first time in his life. I have experienced it more often, that publicity in the gossip magazines,” says Van Barneveld. “I sent him a few texts, like: ‘Buddy, how are you? If you need me, I’m here’. I would never let him down.”
Meanwhile, Van Gerwen feels that he is finding the balance in his life again. “Raymond is also divorced himself,” says Van Gerwen. “There are always ups and downs in life. Everyone has that. You have to deal with it. That’s not easy, but it’s part of it.”
Van Barneveld: ‘I’m not beaming with confidence’
Just like Van Gerwen, Van Barneveld could use a boost at the World Matchplay. ‘Barney’ continues to struggle with his form and is now number 36 in the world. The last final victory on a major dates back eleven years.
“In the past, it was already difficult to lose once a week. I could still give that a place,” he says. “Now I lose three to four times a week. It is damn hard to get up every time.”
“It seems clear to me: I’m not beaming with confidence. It just doesn’t go my way and I keep asking myself: which button do I have to press to get it to happen? I can’t find that button.”
‘Barney’ hopes to find that button against Van Gerwen. The two biggest Dutch darts players are searching. After Van Barneveld was the best Dutch darter first and later ‘Mighty Mike’ was in charge for years, the two are now perhaps closest to each other in years.
And so the most interesting clash in a long time beckons. “Nobody needs to motivate me against him,” says Van Gerwen. Van Barneveld: “I like Michael. But yes, I am also there for my own sake. I hope he will be happy again soon. But after Monday. After Monday he can win everything, haha.”