Darts veteran Van Barneveld on streak of losses: I need to change.

Raymond van Barneveld acknowledges the need for change

According to The Sun: Dutch dart player Raymond van Barneveld spoke about the necessity for change in his performance after yet another loss at the Hungarian Darts Trophy. This weekend he achieved victory over Dave Chisnall with a score of 6-1, but in the next round, he could not withstand Gerwyn Price, who won 6-2.

This defeat was the fifth for van Barneveld this month — he also lost to Mensur Suljovic and Kim Huybrechts, including a heavy loss of 6-0 at the Players Championship.

“I need to change. I know I sometimes look sad on stage, I hear that often. But people do not see what’s behind it,” van Barneveld said.

He also emphasized that despite long training sessions, it's hard for him to cope with sudden defeats: “I practice four or five hours at home, then another three hours at tournaments, and sometimes I lose 6-1. How to deal with that?”

“You have to keep searching, as the level of play is crazy right now. Look at Michael van Gerwen last week — where did that come from? I know I can play,” he adds.

Van Barneveld, one of the most successful players in darts history, has won five world championship titles, insists that rumors of his retirement are unfounded despite a series of losses.

“If I didn’t believe that I could still play, I would have already given up. ProTour isn’t quite for me, it’s too early, but I feel better on the Euro Tour,” he emphasized.

After Price's victory over van Barneveld, he exited the match against young talent Luke Littler, allowing his opponent to reach the semifinals.

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The situation of Raymond van Barneveld raises concerns among his fans as it involves one of the most legendary players in darts. Although the series of losses may undermine confidence, his determination to find new ways to return to a competitive level suggests he’s not ready to give up. Upcoming competitions could be crucial for his career and mental state in the game.