Raymond van Barneveld facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Raymond van Barneveld
Van Barneveld in 2019
Personal information
Nickname	"Barney"
Born	(1967-04-20) 20 April 1967 (age 58) The Hague, Netherlands
Darts information
Playing darts since	1984
Darts	25g Target Signature
Laterality	Right-handed
Walk-on music	"Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor
Organisation (see split in darts)
BDO	1987–2006
PDC	2006–2019, 2021– (Tour Card 2011–2019, 2021–)
Current world ranking	82 4 (8 July 2021)
BDO majors – best performances
World Ch'ship	Winner (4): 1998, 1999, 2003, 2005
World Masters	Winner (2): 2001, 2005
World Darts Trophy	Winner (2): 2003, 2004
Int. Darts League	Winner (3): 2003, 2004, 2006
Finder Masters	Winner (4): 1995, 2001, 2003, 2004
PDC premier events – best performances
World Ch'ship	Winner (1): 2007
World Matchplay	Runner Up: 2010
World Grand Prix	Runner Up: 2008, 2009
Grand Slam	Winner (1): 2012
Premier League	Winner (1): 2014
Desert Classic	Winner (1): 2007
European Ch'ship	Semi Final: 2011, 2014
UK Open	Winner (2): 2006, 2007
US Open/WSoD	Runner Up: 2007
Players Ch'ship Finals	Quarter Final: 2009, 2013, 2016, 2019
Masters	Runner Up: 2015, 2018
Champions League	Semi Final: 2017
World Series Finals	Semi Final: 2018
Other tournament wins
World Cup of Darts (team event) 2010, 2014, 2017, 2018 Belgium Open 1996, 1999 Brandstaff Masters 1999 British Open 1999 Canadian Open 1998 Denmark Open 1997 Finnish Open 1995, 2004 Holland National Championships 2004 Masters of Darts 2007 Northern Ireland Open 2004 Norway Open 1997 Open Holland Masters 2008 Pacific Masters 2005 Spring Cup 1991, 1994, 1999, 2000, 2001 Swedish Open 1998, 2002, 2003 Swiss Open 2000 WDF World Cup Singles 1997, 1999, 2003 WDF Europe Cup Singles 2004 World Team Championship 1997 WDF Europe Cup Pairs 2000, 2004 WDF World Cup Pairs 2005 World Darts Challenge 2007 European Tour Events European Darts Open 2012 Players Championships (x10) Players Championship (Hayling Island) 2006 Players Championship (Frankfurt) 2007 Players Championship (Gibraltar) 2007 Players Championship (Las Vegas) 2007 Players Championship (Newport) 2007 Players Championship (Holland Masters) 2008 Players Championship (Derby) 2011 Players Championship (Dublin) 2013 Players Championship (Bolton) 2021 Players Championship (Hildesheim) 2024 UK Open Regionals/Qualifiers (x7) Regional Final (Ireland) 2006, 2007 Regional Final (Midlands) 2006 Regional Final (North East England) 2007 Regional Final (Scotland) 2006 UK Open Qualifier 2012 (x2)
Other achievements
1998 BDO Personality Award 1999 Major citizen of The Hague 1999 Named in the Order of Orange-Nassau 2003 I.D.P.A. Leighton Rees Men's Player of the Year Award 2006 PDC Best Newcomer 2006 PDC Fans' Player of the Year 2008 PDC Best Floor Player
Updated on 3 June 2018.

Raymond van Barneveld (born April 20, 1967) is a famous Dutch professional darts player. He plays in events organized by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). For a short time in 2008, he was ranked the world's number one player.

People often call him "Barney". He has won the World Championship five times! Four of those wins were in the BDO and one was in the PDC. He has also won many other big tournaments, like the UK Open twice, the Las Vegas Desert Classic, the Grand Slam, and the Premier League.

Raymond van Barneveld has won the PDC World Cup of Darts four times with his teammates. He also won the WDF World Cup Pairs once. His victory over Phil Taylor in the 2007 PDC World Championship final was very special. It made him one of only three players in darts history to win five world titles, matching Eric Bristow.

Many people think he is one of the best darts players ever. He has helped make darts much more popular in the Netherlands. It's interesting to know that he is naturally left-handed but throws darts with his right hand!

In 2018, Van Barneveld said he would stop playing darts after the 2020 PDC World Darts Championship. He briefly retired in March 2019 but changed his mind the next day. He officially retired after the 2020 World Championship. However, in February 2021, he decided to come back and earned his professional tour card again.

Barney's Early Darts Journey

Starting Out in the BDO

Raymond van Barneveld started playing in darts competitions in the Netherlands when he was 17 years old, back in 1984. He won his very first tournament, the Rotterdam Open, that same year. People quickly saw that he had a lot of potential to become a great player.

He then joined the international darts circuit. He reached the semi-finals of the Belgian Open in 1987 and the Dutch Open in 1988. In 1990, he played in the WDF Europe Cup singles, where he made it to the quarter-finals.

First World Final Appearance

Van Barneveld first played in the World Championship in 1991. He didn't go far, losing in the first round. But he kept improving in the early 1990s. He reached quarter-finals in the Belgian Open and German Open, and a semi-final in the Swiss Open.

In 1993, he showed his skill by hitting a perfect 170 checkout against John Lowe. This was a big moment, even though he lost the match. Soon after, many top players left the British Darts Organisation (BDO) to form the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC).

In 1995, he had a fantastic run at the World Championship. He beat several strong players to reach his first World Final. However, he was defeated by Richie Burnett from Wales, 6-3.

Becoming a World Champion

Four BDO World Titles

After a couple of early exits, Van Barneveld won his first world title in 1998. He had an exciting final against Richie Burnett, winning 6-5. Many people remember this as one of the best finals ever!

He successfully defended his title in 1999 against Ronnie Baxter, becoming only the second player to do so. In November 1999, he played a special match against Phil Taylor, who was a seven-time world champion at the time. Van Barneveld lost that match.

He had a tough year in 2000, losing in the first round. He also lost in the quarter-finals in 2001 and 2002. But he came back strong in 2003, winning his third world title by beating Ritchie Davies 6-3.

In 2004, he reached the semi-finals but lost in a close match. His fourth world title came in 2005. He played incredibly well, not losing a single set in the first three rounds. He then beat Martin Adams 6-2 in the final.

In 2006, he reached his sixth final, hoping to win a fifth BDO title. But he was defeated by a young player from his own country, Jelle Klaasen, who was only 21 years old.

Besides the World Championship, he also won the prestigious Winmau World Masters twice, in 2001 and 2005. He also won the World Darts Trophy and the International Darts League multiple times.

Barney's PDC Journey

Moving to the PDC

After playing in the BDO for 20 years, Raymond van Barneveld decided to join the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) in 2006. He wanted new challenges and to play against top players like Phil Taylor more often. Even though he started from the bottom of the rankings, he quickly climbed up. Within a year, he was ranked world number two and became a PDC World Champion!

Van Barneveld in 2006

His first PDC event was the 2006 Premier League. He even hit his first televised nine dart finish in March 2006. He won his first major PDC title in June 2006 at the UK Open. He beat Phil Taylor in the quarter-finals, which was a big goal for him. He then won the final against Barrie Bates. A few weeks later, he beat Taylor again in the Las Vegas Desert Classic semi-finals, but lost in the final.

Winning His Fifth World Title

Van Barneveld in 2007

The biggest moment came in the 2007 PDC World Championship final. He faced Phil Taylor in a match that many call one of the greatest darts matches ever. Van Barneveld came back from being three sets down to win 7-6 in a sudden-death leg! This victory gave him his fifth world title, matching Eric Bristow's record.

van Barneveld walking on in 2007

In February 2007, he won the Masters of Darts tournament, beating Peter Manley 7-0 in the final. He also successfully defended his UK Open title in 2007, becoming the first player to do so. A month later, he won the Las Vegas Desert Classic.

Later Years and Comeback

The year 2008 was a bit quieter for Van Barneveld, as he didn't win any major tournaments. He was affected by the flu during the 2008 World Championship and lost in the third round. He reached the semi-finals of the Premier League but was defeated.

In the 2009 World Championship, he made history by hitting the first-ever nine-dart finish in the PDC World Championship! He reached the final but lost to Phil Taylor. He hit another nine-darter in the 2010 World Championship, becoming the first player to hit two in that tournament.

In 2012, Van Barneveld won his first major tournament in over five years: the Grand Slam of Darts. He played against Michael van Gerwen in an all-Dutch final and won 16-14. This win was later named the best PDC Televised Performance of the Year.

In 2014, he achieved another big victory by winning the Premier League. He beat Phil Taylor in the semi-finals for the first time in the tournament, and then defeated Michael van Gerwen in the final. He also won the World Cup of Darts with Michael van Gerwen that year.

Van Barneveld continued to play in many tournaments, reaching semi-finals and quarter-finals in various events. He announced his retirement in 2018, played his last World Championship in 2020, but then decided to make a comeback in 2021.

Since his return, he has continued to compete. In 2021, he won a Players Championship event, his first individual PDC title since 2014. In 2022, he reached the semi-finals of the Grand Slam of Darts. In 2024, he won another Players Championship title in Hildesheim. He continues to be a respected player in the darts world.

Outside of Darts

In 2012, Raymond van Barneveld and other darts players recorded a charity song called 'Got My Tickets for the Darts'. The money raised went to a children's hospice. In 2017, he was featured in a song by Dutch rapper Donnie.

Personal Life

Raymond van Barneveld lives in The Hague, Netherlands, with his wife Julia. He was previously married to Sylvia for 25 years; they divorced in 2019. He has three children: a son named William and two daughters, Daisy and Patty.

In 2009, he shared that he had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. He mentioned that this condition can sometimes make his vision blurry if his blood sugar levels are too high. He is also a big fan of the football club ADO Den Haag.

Awards and Special Achievements

• Best PDC Pro Tour Player/Floor Player: 2008
• PDC Nine Dart Club: He has hit many perfect nine-dart finishes, both on TV and in other games.
• PDC Televised Performance of the Year: 2013 (for his Grand Slam win)
• PDC Best Newcomer: 2006
• BDO Personality Award: 1998
• Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau: 1999 (a special honor in the Netherlands)

World Championship Results

Career Finals: Major Wins

BDO Major Finals: 14 Titles

Outcome	No.	Year	Championship	Opponent in the final	Score
Runner-up	1.	1995	World Championship	Richie Burnett	3–6 (sets)
Winner	1.	1998	World Championship	Richie Burnett	6–5 (sets)
Winner	2.	1999	World Championship	Ronnie Baxter	6–5 (sets)
Winner	3.	2001	Winmau World Masters	Jarkko Komula	4–2 (sets)
Winner	4.	2001	Zuiderduin Masters	Andy Fordham	5–1 (sets)
Winner	5.	2003	World Championship	Ritchie Davies	6–3 (sets)
Winner	6.	2003	International Darts League	Mervyn King	8–5 (sets)
Winner	7.	2003	World Darts Trophy	Mervyn King	6–2 (sets)
Runner-up	2.	2003	Winmau World Masters	Tony West	6–7 (sets)
Winner	8.	2003	Zuiderduin Masters	Mervyn King	6–1 (sets)
Winner	9.	2004	International Darts League	Tony David	13–5 (sets)
Winner	10.	2004	World Darts Trophy	Martin Adams	6–4 (sets)
Winner	11.	2004	Zuiderduin Masters	Ted Hankey	5–1 (sets)
Winner	12.	2005	World Championship	Martin Adams	6–2 (sets)
Winner	13.	2005	Winmau World Masters	Göran Klemme	7–3 (sets)
Runner-up	3.	2006	World Championship	Jelle Klaasen	5–7 (sets)
Winner	14.	2006	International Darts League	Colin Lloyd	13–5 (sets)

PDC Major Finals: 6 Titles

Outcome	No.	Year	Championship	Opponent in the final	Score
Winner	1.	2006	UK Open	Barrie Bates	13–7 (legs)
Runner-up	1.	2006	Las Vegas Desert Classic	John Part	3–6 (sets)
Winner	2.	2007	World Championship	Phil Taylor	7–6 (sets)
Runner-up	2.	2007	US Open	Phil Taylor	1–4 (sets)
Winner	3.	2007	UK Open	Vincent van der Voort	16–8 (legs)
Winner	4.	2007	Las Vegas Desert Classic	Terry Jenkins	13–6 (legs)
Runner-up	3.	2008	World Grand Prix	Phil Taylor	2–6 (sets)
Runner-up	4.	2009	World Championship	Phil Taylor	1–7 (sets)
Runner-up	5.	2009	Las Vegas Desert Classic	Phil Taylor	11–13 (legs)
Runner-up	6.	2009	World Grand Prix	Phil Taylor	3–6 (sets)
Runner-up	7.	2010	World Matchplay	Phil Taylor	12–18 (legs)
Winner	5.	2012	Grand Slam	Michael van Gerwen	16–14 (legs)
Winner	6.	2014	Premier League	Michael van Gerwen	10–6 (legs)
Runner-up	8.	2015	Masters	Michael van Gerwen	6–11 (legs)
Runner-up	9.	2018	Masters	Michael van Gerwen	9–11 (legs)

PDC Team Finals: 6 Titles

Outcome	No.	Year	Championship	Teammate	Opponents in the final	Score
Winner	1.	1997	World Pairs	Roland Scholten	Richie Burnett and Rod Harrington	18–15 (legs)
Winner	2.	2007	World Darts Challenge	John Kuczynski	Phil Taylor and Ray Carver	14–11 (legs)
Winner	3.	2010	World Cup	Co Stompé	Mark Webster and Barrie Bates	4–2 (pairs)
Winner	4.	2014	World Cup	Michael van Gerwen	Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis	3–0 (matches)
Runner-up	1.	2016	World Cup	Michael van Gerwen	Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis	2–3 (matches)
Winner	5.	2017	World Cup	Michael van Gerwen	Gerwyn Price and Mark Webster	3–1 (matches)
Winner	6.	2018	World Cup	Michael van Gerwen	Gary Anderson and Peter Wright	3–1 (matches)

Nine-Dart Finishes

A nine-dart finish is like a perfect game in darts, where a player scores 501 points in just nine throws. Raymond van Barneveld has achieved this amazing feat many times on TV!

Raymond van Barneveld's televised nine-dart finishes

Date	Opponent	Tournament	Method	Prize
March 23, 2006	Peter Manley	Premier League	3 x Triple 20; 3 x Triple 20; Triple 20, Triple 19, Double 12
January 2, 2009	Jelle Klaasen	PDC World Championship	3 x Triple 20; 3 x Triple 20; Triple 20, Triple 19, Double 12	£20,000
December 28, 2009	Brendan Dolan	PDC World Championship	3 x Triple 20; 3 x Triple 20; Triple 20, Triple 19, Double 12	£25,000
April 29, 2010	Terry Jenkins	Premier League	3 x Triple 20; 3 x Triple 20; Triple 20, Triple 19, Double 12
July 17, 2010	Denis Ovens	World Matchplay	3 x Triple 20; 3 x Triple 20; Triple 20, Triple 19, Double 12	£5,000

Images for kids

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  Van Barneveld in 2019

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  Van Barneveld in 2006

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  Van Barneveld in 2007

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  Van Barneveld walking on in 2007

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  Van Barneveld in 2016