Raymond Van Barneveld is bowing out
Five-time world darts champion Raymond Van Barneveld has announced he will retire at the end of 2019.
The Dutchman, four times a winner of the BDO title and a memorable PDC winner in 2007, said in a statement ‘all good things come to an end’. The 51-year old added: “I’m not winning tournaments any more, I don’t know why but a lot of things have happened in my private life and I’ve also noticed that my body isn’t feeling 100 per cent any more. I don’t have the drive, motivation or fitness to carry on.
“I’m a winner, that’s what I do - I lift trophies but I can’t do it anymore. Maybe there are still a couple of titles left in me and that would be amazing but I can’t do this every week any more.”
Van Barneveld’s 7-6 win over Phil Taylor to win the 2007 world title is rated by many, including Taylor himself, to be one of the greatest matches of all-time.
