Raymond van Barneveld plans to play on the professional circuit for at least three more years, the five-time world champion revealed in an interview with the Algemeen Dagblad.
According to Van Barneveld, he has not yet played to be financially independent enough in recent years. “So yes, I have to keep going. If you stop, you lose all your sponsors. If you stop being on television, you won’t be asked for exhibitions either. What else are you going to live on?”
Also read
Michael van Gerwen recalls running for his life: ”The man who came out had me by my collar”
But in addition to the financial reason, Van Barneveld thinks darts itself is still too much fun to put the arrows away for good. “I made it to the top 32 after my comeback and that’s not for everyone. That comes from faith and perseverance. Eventually I want to get to a place in the top 16 or even higher. Realistic? I don’t know, but the dreams are there. If those become years where I don’t win a round and everything starts gnawing away…. yes, then you have to start looking at yourself in the mirror again.”
