I will never lose on my grandson Mason’s big day
DUTCHMAN Raymond van Barneveld will cut short his Christmas celebrations today in his bid to win the William Hill World Darts title for the inspiration of his life – grandson Mason.
Van Barneveld, 49, is heading back to England from the Netherlands to prepare for his second-round match with Alan Norris tomorrow, a day on which he could not be more driven to succeed.
Mason celebrates his first birthday that day and grandad Barney has a warning to Norris: “I will never ever lose on the 27th. It will give me that real determination.”
When Mason was born, Dutchman Van Barneveld was at the championship where he progressed to the semi-finals, beating Michael Van Gerwen on the way before losing to Adrian Lewis.
And he is pumped up to go even further this time as he chases a sixth world crown. “The little kid is giving me so much energy,” said Van Barneveld.
“I remember when Mason was born I was walking out of the hotel and luckily for me, we had Facetime. I called my daughter and I saw my grandchild for the first time. Everyone was there except his grandfather, that meant a lot. He inspired me for the rest of the tournament and you could see the emotions during it.
“At the end I really believed in winning another world title after REPORTS so many tough matches – against Michael van Gerwen, Stephen Bunting, Michael Smith. At the end I was thinking, ‘Ray, this could be your year’.
“I never turned up against Adrian Lewis. He had some crucial finishes and he played really well.”
Van Barneveld, who last won the world crown in 2007 when he beat Phil Taylor in that sensational Circus Tavern match, has Mason’s name on the collar of his darts shirt and he cannot wait to get him on the oche.
He said: “Mason is my life at the moment, he is my inspiration.
“In a month or two he is going to be walking and I cannot wait to teach him the old game. I bought him a set of darts with the magnetic board and in the next 10 years I am going to teach my grandchild to maybe be a fantastic darts player.
“My daughter lives half an hour from me and I see him one or two times a week and he is such a great little fella. He gives me joy and the strength to fight, every time he is laughing and he is such a funny guy.
“I never ever expected it. I have three children; you love your children but having a grandchild is something else – it is different. It is fantastic.”
Van Barneveld was so fluent as he beat Robbie Green in the first round at what is his 25th world championship.
“Someone told me this the other day and I was not aware of it. Wow, that is a long time,” said Van Barneveld, who was a four-time BDO winner before switching to the PDC.
“I am celebrating Christmas but with your head, you are always there for the world championship. You know you have to leave and then prepare for the next phase as this is where I want to play well.
“I am still capable of winning and lifting trophies. The world championship means all and everything to me.”