Born in The Hague on April 20, 1967, Raymond Van Barneveld can rightly lay claim to being one of the greatest darts players of all time.
Here, the PA news agency takes a closer look at his glittering career.
Silky smooth
Unstoppable at the Lakeside
Victory over Adams was emphatic
Power cut
His Circus Tavern final with Taylor in 2007 is arguably the most memorable game of darts ever televised. It is almost certainly the most dramatic, with Van Barneveld roaring back from three sets down to win in a deciding leg, taking out double top for victory.
Taylor generally had his measure after that, but there is little doubt their meetings were box office events for a long time.
Barney Army
But does Wayne’s Walk-On beat this?
Raymond van Barneveld’s Eye of the Tiger ? is a real fans’ favourite and guaranteed way to get the arena rocking!
Is he going to be your Champion? #ToyoTiresWalkOnWorldCup pic.twitter.com/98Q5rNUceo
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) March 26, 2020
Incredibly popular with the darting audiences that packed the big arenas for tournaments like the Premier League, his walk on to the sounds of Survivor’s ‘Eye Of The Tiger’ was perfectly suited to the modern game and the ‘Barney Army’ lapped it up.
Bowing out at Ally Pally
He announced 2019 would be his last full season and it was a sad sight to see him exiting the 2020 World Championship at Alexandra Palace at the first hurdle.
The man who inspired MVG
