Rocking Raymond van Barneveld says Den Bosch will be mental on Saturday after he rolled back the years with a brilliant World Series win.
The 57-year-old left the World Championships in despair after a horrendous loss to Nick Kenny and wondered what the future held.
However, just a month later in front of an adoring home audience, Barney produced a magnificent display to beat Chris Dobey 6-5 at the Dutch Darts Masters in a deciding leg. The veteran also produced a showbiz finale as, with the Geordie sat on a double to win the match, the old stager smashed a scintillating 144 finish to send the arena crazy.
Barney celebrated massively and said: “I’m thinking, I can do this if I keep putting him under pressure. That last leg, I started well with a 140 and I’m thinking just before I hit that 144: I’m thinking, I’m going to do this for everyone here. And wow, it went in. Wow.
“I don’t know, [I’ve got] maybe two years or three years in me, but don’t get me wrong, to play in your own country, Germany, United Kingdom, it doesn’t matter. They all support the Barney Army. But here, I’m looking forward to tomorrow night because it’s got to be mental, it’s sold out already. Wow, what a game and I’m so over the moon with this win.
“I was struggling for a year now and finally, I said 144, treble, treble and then double 12, it went in. I’m really happy.”
Barney noiw faces Stephen Bunting in Saturday’s last-eight matches and said: “I love Steven, we get along fine together for long years. It’s going to be a great game. I’m looking forward to it. But now I’m going to enjoy the rest of the evening because of this. I’m really proud of myself.”