Darts legend Raymond van Barneveld to retire after 2019/2020 World Championships
The 51-year-old is a five-time world champion in PDC and BDO, and is one of most successful darts players in history
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD has announced he will retire after the 2019/2020 World Championship.
The 51-year-old boasts one of the most glittering careers in darts - having won multiple majors on both the PDC and BDO circuits.
The Dutchman has quoted Rocky Balboa as saying "Time is undefeated" as he enters his 35th season of playing professionally.
Van Barneveld is one of just three players to have won the world championship five times - winning four in BDO and one in PDC in 2007.
In a statement on Twitter, Barney said: "All good things must come to an end. For over 35 years I have been competing at the top of darts.
"With high peaks and deep lows. With 5 beautiful world titles and many other trophies I have won. I have seen so many countries and met a lot of people.
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"This sport brought me everything I could hope for and I will always be grateful for that.
"But I have decided that 2019 will be my final year as a professional darts player.
"I hope to see all my fans again next year to be able to say goodbye and then put my darts down.
"Time takes everybody out. Time is undefeated - Rocky Balboa."
Raymond van Barneveld's career highlights
In BDO
- Four world championships (1998, 1999, 2003, 2005)
- Two World Masters titles (2001, 2005)
- World Dart Trophy (2003, 2004)
- International Darts League (2003, 2004, 2005)
In PDC
- One world championship (2007)
- Grand Slam of Darts (2012)
- Premier League (2014)
- UK Open (2006, 2007)
- Las Vegas Desert Classic (2007)
- World Cup of Darts (2010, 2014, 2017, 2018)
Speaking to the , Van Barneveld claimed he couldn't keep up anymore as major titles continue to elude him.
He said: "I noticed in myself that I can’t keep up anymore, I know what I can do but it’s just not been happening for the past three or four years apart from winning the World Cup with Michael [van Gerwen].
"I'm not winning tournaments anymore, I don’t know why but a lot of things have happened in my private life and I’ve also noticed that my body isn’t feeling 100 percent anymore - I don’t have the drive, motivation or fitness to carry on."
While he also added: "I absolutely believe I can still be World Champion again in one of my last two attempts."
Van Barneveld has won 29 PDC titles since making the switch from BDO in 2006, and has recorded five nine-dart finishes.