Raymond van Barneveld has never been short of difficult nights on a darts stage, but even for one of the sport’s greatest champions, 2026 has become something different.
The Dutch legend has described this season as the “worst year of my career” and, at 59, he has openly admitted that his future in professional darts is something he will eventually have to confront. For a player who has spent decades competing at the highest level, that admission carries plenty of weight.
Yet Barney is not walking away just yet. His immediate target is clear: qualify for the World Darts Championship and give himself another chance to perform on the Alexandra Palace stage.
A season that has gone badly wrong
Van Barneveld’s problems have been impossible to ignore.
He missed out on several of the biggest tournaments of the year, including the World Matchplay and World Grand Prix, while his results across the Pro Tour have not provided the consistency expected from a player of his stature.
Earlier in the season, the situation was particularly concerning. He had managed only two wins from nine Players Championship events and was sitting outside the qualification positions for the Players Championship Finals and World Championship.
The ranking picture tells its own story.
Van Barneveld was listed 40th on the PDC Order of Merit ahead of the World Grand Prix, a remarkable contrast to the periods of his career when he was regularly challenging for major titles.
But there has been at least one encouraging sign recently.
Barney finally finds a spark
On September 23, Van Barneveld reached the quarter-finals of Players Championship 30 in Den Bosch.
He defeated Stephen Burton, Tyler Thorpe, Cam Crabtree and Jeffrey de Zwaan before losing 6-4 to Niels Zonneveld. His averages in the victories included 92.90, 91.98 and 99.56, showing that the ability to produce high-quality darts has certainly not disappeared.
That run matters because it reinforces something Barney himself appears to believe: he can still beat players.
The bigger problem is putting together enough victories to make a serious run through a tournament.
“I’m still capable enough to win my matches, but it’s one or two and then it kind of stops,” Van Barneveld said. “Do you want to continue like that? That’s what you have to ask yourself.”
That is probably the most revealing part of the entire situation.
This is not simply a case of a veteran admitting he can no longer compete. He believes he can still win matches. What is hurting him is the lack of consistency required to turn individual victories into meaningful tournament runs.
The retirement question is now real
Van Barneveld was remarkably open when discussing what happens if the results do not improve.
“There will be a day when you look in the mirror and say: was that it? I don’t want to say that now. I want to give everything to make the Worlds.”
That is not a retirement announcement, but it is certainly a retirement conversation.
The five-time world champion made it clear that qualifying for the World Championship is his priority. If he fails, he said he will have to seriously consider what comes next.
“If I don’t make the Worlds, then of course you have to scratch your head: what now? Because do you want another year like that? You’ve basically dropped out of all the rankings.”
That final sentence is particularly significant.
For a player who has spent much of his career around the biggest stages in darts, another season outside the major tournaments would represent a very different professional existence.
A remarkable career behind him
It is easy to focus on the current struggles and forget just how extraordinary Van Barneveld’s career has been.
He has won five world titles across the BDO and PDC, including the 2007 PDC World Championship, and has collected 21 major titles.
His rivalry with Phil Taylor helped define one of the most memorable periods in modern darts.
The 2007 World Championship final remains one of the sport’s iconic matches, when Van Barneveld defeated Taylor in a sudden-death leg after a thrilling 7-6 contest.
His career also includes major victories at the UK Open, Grand Slam of Darts, Premier League and Las Vegas Desert Classic.
That history makes the current situation difficult to watch for long-time fans.
The World Grand Prix absence says plenty
One of the clearest signs of his current position is his absence from the 2026 World Grand Prix in Leicester.
Van Barneveld is one of the most recognisable names missing from this year’s 32-player field, alongside former world champions Michael Smith and Peter Wright.
It is particularly notable because the World Grand Prix has been part of his career for many years. He reached the final twice, in 2008 and 2009, but never managed to lift the trophy.
This year’s absence therefore represents more than simply missing another tournament. It underlines how far his ranking and results have slipped.
Alexandra Palace could become crucial
The next major objective is now the World Championship.
Van Barneveld has already acknowledged that failing to reach Alexandra Palace could force him into a serious decision about his future.
And that is what makes the next few weeks fascinating.
A strong finish to the season could completely change the mood around his career. One good tournament does not erase the problems of 2026, but it could give Barney the confidence and ranking momentum needed to keep going.
The alternative is equally clear.
If the results continue to decline and qualification disappears, retirement could become a much more realistic conversation.
Barney’s story is not finished yet
There is something fitting about Van Barneveld refusing to make a decision before he has exhausted his chances.
At 59, he knows his career is approaching its final chapter. But his recent quarter-final run shows that he can still produce the sort of darts capable of beating established professionals.
The question is whether he can do it often enough.
For now, the five-time world champion is choosing to fight for one more World Championship appearance rather than announce the end of an extraordinary career. And considering everything Barney has achieved, it would be premature to write the final chapter before he does.
His next few tournaments could tell us much more about what comes next.
Will Raymond van Barneveld fight his way back to Alexandra Palace, or are we watching the final stages of one of darts’ most remarkable careers? Fans will certainly have plenty to say about it.