FIRST CLASS MALE
Barney has gone from postman to world champ.. but he wants to deliver one more title
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD is dreaming of one last duel with old rival Phil Taylor.
Twenty years on from his first world title, which enabled him to quit his job as a postman in the Hague, Barney has already drafted the script.
Taylor v Barney, New Year’s Day, Alexandra Palace, one more time.
It will take an almighty alignment of the stars for an encore to happen in darts’ biggest ratings draw.
Taylor has won 61 of their 83 meetings in all competitions, with four draws, but as the popular Dutchman mobilised his Barney army at the William Hill PDC World Championship, he had already set his heart on another postman’s spat with The Power (the pair, right).
Van Barneveld said: “I cannot wait to get to Ally Pally. My first world championship, in the BDO at Lakeside, was back in 1991 and I lost 3-0 against a guy called Kevin Sullivan from Australia.
“Although I was 24 then and I am 50 now, I am still as excited as I was before my first one, although it’s been a bit too long since I won my last world title in 2007.
“It would be something special for me to win it this year because it’s 20 years since I won my first world championship and I still believe I c a n do it.
“What could be better, 20 years after winning my first world title, than meeting Phil Taylor in the final in the last game of his career? That would be perfect.”
Along with Eric Bristow, Van Barneveld, who opens his campaign against Ally Pally virgin Richard North in the first round tonight, has more world titles than anyone in arrows history except Taylor.
Don’t take North for granted. He’s a decent young player, but Barney wants an anniversary knees-up and the world championship often brings out the best in him.
He said: “I reached my first final in 1995, when I lost against Richie Burnett, and three years later I got my revenge to win it.
“It was an absolute cracker. Out of 15 million people in Holland, five million watched it – one in three of the entire population – and that game changed my life.
With that title I was able to give up being a postman and take up darts as a professional, and in 1999 I won it again. They were special years for me.
“I don’t miss my old life, especially in weather like this when it’s freezing or raining. When I see my old colleagues out on their rounds, it gives me a good feeling that I am living the dream now.
“I have still got another five to seven years left in me at this level, but I have always told family and friends that if I don’t have the fire any more, it’ll be time to go. Maybe Phil has reached that stage now.
“I have two lovely grandchildren – the second one, Nikki, was born in November – and there is a hard side to this lifestyle because we are away at tournaments so much.
“But my head is good. I have to believe I can win this, otherwise I wouldn’t bother getting on the plane.”