Darts icon Raymond van Barneveld has cast serious doubt over his future in the sport following a devastating first-round exit at the PDC World Darts Championship.
A Devastating Defeat at Alexandra Palace
The five-time world champion was unceremoniously dumped out of the tournament on Wednesday, suffering a straight-sets defeat to Switzerland's Stefan Bellmont. The 58-year-old Dutchman, who famously won the title on his debut in 2007, managed to win just two legs in a one-sided encounter that has left his career in limbo.
This early departure marks a sixth consecutive year where Van Barneveld has failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals at the sport's showpiece event, held at London's Alexandra Palace, affectionately known as Ally Pally.
Van Barneveld's Emotional Statement
In a lengthy and candid statement released after the match, a clearly dejected Van Barneveld admitted he is struggling to see a way forward. "I'm out. It has been a very poor year for me," he confessed. "I need to regroup myself. It's very difficult to answer what's next."
He paid credit to his opponent's performance, stating Bellmont "hit every double" when it mattered, but highlighted the growing chasm between his practice form and match-day displays. "On the practice board I'm a five-time World Champion, maybe even ten-time. But during the matches it just is not going my way," he lamented.
The veteran's frustration was palpable as he questioned his continued participation. "I wonder by myself how to go on. I wonder what to do because suffering every week from all the defeats is not what I want. That's obvious," Van Barneveld said, delivering a strong hint that retirement could be on the cards.
Consequences and What Happens Next
The immediate sporting consequence of this loss is a slide down the PDC Order of Merit rankings for Van Barneveld. The defeat to a player without a full PDC Tour Card has been described by the legend himself as particularly painful.
Meanwhile, the victorious Stefan Bellmont now advances to a second-round clash against Australia's Damon Heta, having secured the biggest win of his career. For Van Barneveld, the path is far less clear, with the darts world now waiting to see if one of its greatest ever competitors will decide to hang up his darts for good.
"I have got homework to do and have to find out what to do next," he concluded. "But, this one hurts, that's obvious."
