Raymond looks to get back to the top

NEW-LOOK Raymond van Barneveld reckons his four eyes will help get revenge against Dutch rival Michael van Gerwen in The Unibet Masters on Saturday.

Van Barneveld stunned the darting world when he wore glasses for the first time in competition at the European Championship last weekend.

He beat Simon Whitlock, Vincent van der Voort and Peter Wright to reach the semi-finals, where world champion Van Gerwen needed a nine-darter to end his rival’s challenge.

Van Barneveld has now vowed to stick with the glasses as he bids to retain his place inside the world’s top 16 ahead of his rematch with recent World Grand Prix winner Van Gerwen in Edinburgh.

He said: “I’m 47 and I never thought that I’d play darts wearing glasses, but why not?

“As long as the trebles and doubles keep going in, then I’ll stick with them.

“I’ve had these glasses since December, but I didn’t wear them.

“I went to an optician because, with my diabetes, I was getting some blurred vision sometimes, but you don’t want to wear them because everyone would start talking about it.

Afraid

“My manager pushed me to try the glasses in a practice session, and it’s like seeing the dartboard in HD.

“I was giving the glasses to other players and they said that they could see the board more clearly.

“My vision is much better and I played some good darts during the weekend, but I also didn’t hit the averages I wanted to.

“Hopefully in the next few months I can get my confidence back, but they’re definitely helping me.

“I’ve got to get used to it, but I was afraid that my dart may hit the frame of my glasses, but it doesn’t and I’ve got a new vision.”

Tickets for The Unibet Masters on November 1-2 at the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh are still available through pdc.seetickets.com or by calling 0844 871 8807.