Raymond van Barneveld (Barney) is a professional dart player from the Netherlands. He is popularly known as Barney and is one of the most successful darts players.
Barney is a five-time World Darts Champion (4 times BDO, 1 time PDC) and a two-time UK Open Champion.
Further, Raymond is also the previous champion of the Las Vegas Desert Classic, Grand Slam of Darts, and Premier League.
The Dutch player has also won the World Masters, the WDF World Cup Singles tournament three times, and the World Darts Trophy twice. Additionally, he is also the International Darts League winner.
Today we’re back with all the career highlights and controversies in the life of the Dutch dart player.
Further, it includes information about his divorce, new girlfriend, and net worth. So follow us through and get to everything about Raymond Van Barneveld.
But, before that, look at the quick facts about Raymond.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Raymond van Barneveld |
| Nick Name | Barney, The Man |
| Birth Date | April 20, 1967 |
| Birth Place | The Hague, Netherlands |
| Home Town | The Hague, Netherlands |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sex | Male |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
| Laterality | Right-handed |
| Darts | 25g Target RVB Prototype |
| Walk-on Music | “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor |
| Hobbies | Darts |
| Food Habit | Non-vegetarian |
| Chinese Zodiac | Goat |
| Zodiac Sign | Aries |
| Father’s Name | Not available |
| Mother’s Name | Not available |
| Siblings | Not available |
| Sponsors | Target Darts, Bengi, Premium Wine House, IQ Select, EMHA, and Draaijer Turbo Service |
| Age | 56 Years Old |
| Height | 6 feet 2 inches (189 cm) |
| Reach | Not available |
| Weight | 85 kg (187 lbs) |
| BDO Career | 1987–2006 |
| PDC Career | 2006-2019, 2021-present |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown |
| Profession | Professional Darts Player |
| Current world ranking | 56 |
| Marital Status | Divorcing |
| Wife | Sylvia Van Barneveld |
| Girlfriend | Julia Evans |
| Playing darts since | 1984 |
| Children | Three |
| Net Worth | $6.1 Million |
| Social Media | Instagram, Facebook, Twitter |
| Merch | Steel Tip Darts |
| Last Update | April, 2024 |
How did Raymond Van Barneveld start his darts career?
When Raymond was young, his Father used to take him to the pub called ‘The Entertainer’ in the Haag every Friday. At the pub, Raymond used to play darts. At that time, Raymond was only 13.
Raymond returned to the pub when he was 16. In 1984, he asked for a dartboard for his birthday, and he got addicted since then.
There was a guy called Jan Brouwers who spotted Raymond. Every Saturday night, he used to go to the pub when dart competitions were going on.
Raymond was in the third division at the time, whereas Brouwers was a first-class player. Nevertheless, Brouwers came up to Raymond and said that he thought Raymond was a top-class player.
He also offered his assistance to Raymond. Moreover, Jan also proposed to fund and accompany Raymond to the competitions in Holland.
Raymond soon got his Father’s permission and stayed with Jan for the following three years.
Raymond Van Barneveld: BDO Career
In his debut year, Barney won his first competition as a 17-year-old, the Rotterdam Open. Barney was hailed as a kid genius among his compatriots from that moment on.
In subsequent years, he also entered the international darts circuit, reaching the quarterfinals of the Dutch and Belgian Opens.
During the 1991 Embassy World Championship, Barney made his World Championship debut at the Lakeside Country Club.
However, Barney’s debut was cut short as Keith Sullivan decisively trounced him. In addition, he also began to make waves on the BDO circuit in the early 1990s.
Four World Titles
Following second-round exits in the 1996 and 1997 World Championships, Barney won his first world championship in 1998, in a World Final against Richie Burnett.
The Dutch player successfully defended the title the next year. The match was against Ronnie Baxter, and Barney succeeded by the same margin as the previous year.
Likewise, Raymond reached the final in 2003 after losing in the quarterfinals in 2001 and 2002. The player won his third world title by defeating Wales’ Ritchie Davies 6–3.
Besides, in 2005, a fourth title followed. Raymond defeated Gary Anderson, Mike Veitch, and Vincent van der Voort in the first three rounds without dropping a set.
Barney won his fourth championship with a 5–3 semi-final victory over Darryl Fitton and a 6–2 final victory against Martin Adams of England.
Raymond Van Barneveld: PDC Career
UK Open Title
In June, Barney defeated Barrie Bates in the final match of the UK Open. It was his first major PDC championship victory.
He defeated Phil Taylor in the quarterfinals earlier, fulfilling one of his goals, which he declared after transferring to the PDC.
Barneveld also defeated Phil Taylor in the Las Vegas Desert Classic 2006 semi-finals two weeks later.
Grand Slam of Darts 2012
In November 2012, Barney won the non-ranking Grand Slam of Darts. It was his first big competition in over five years.
In his first group match, he defeated Mark Walsh 5–0 before falling 5–4 to darts champion Christian Kist in his second.
However, a 5–2 victory over Wayne Jones from a 2–0 deficit qualified him for the knockout stage.
Barney defeated fellow Dutchman Wesley Harms 10–4 in the last 16 and avenged his quarterfinal loss to Kist by winning 16–10.
He also defeated Andy Hamilton 16–10 in the semi-finals to set up an all-Dutch final against Grand Prix champion Michael van Gerwen.
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Premier League
Barney threw some of his best consistent darts during the Premier League years, going undefeated for 12 matches and finishing second in the rankings.
He beat Phil Taylor in the event semi-finals for the first time after 21 tries, returning from a 4–1 deficit to win 8–5.
The Dutch player had never passed the event’s semi-finals before, having lost at this level in the previous six years.
In a like manner, Raymond also went on to win the championship 10–6 against Michael van Gerwen after winning four straight legs from 5–5 in the final.
Retirement and Comeback
Darius Labanauskas knocked out Barney in the second round of the PDC Championship of 2019.
Further, the Dutch player was invited to compete in the 2019 Premier League Darts but was ousted in the first round, having finished last in the table after nine games.
After being eliminated, Barneveld declared his immediate retirement on March 28, only to reverse his mind the next day.
He announced his retirement after losing 3-1 in the first round of the PDC Championship 2020 against American Darin Young, a result he stated he could “never forgive” himself for.
Raymond stated his desire to play in the PDC Q-School for 2021 on September 23, 2020, reconsidering his decision to retire.
After winning on points, the Dutch player qualified for the second round of Q-school before clinching his two-year tour card on the last day, ranking third on the Order of Merit.
Barneveld won his first competition since his comeback on February 27, at the Players Championship 3 in Bolton, for the third time in asking.
His 8-6 victory against Joe Cullen was his first solo PDC title and first ranking trophy since the 2014 Premier League.
Raymond Van Barneveld: Personal Life
The darts player was married to Sylvia Van Barneveld. The two had three kids together, Mike Van Barneveld, Daisy Van Barneveld, and Patty Van Barneveld.
However, after 25 years of marriage, the couple decided to part ways. Raymond is currently in the process of divorcing his wife.
Raymond and Silvia currently live separately. The main reason for the divorce is that Raymond is always far from home.
In the summer of 2018, Sylvia was robbed at her own House. Moreover, she was also held at gunpoint by the robbers. She has not been able to keep her mind at peace since then.
The darts player cannot give his wife love, affection, and protection because of his career.
Girlfriend
The darts player has a new girlfriend that he spends his time. Raymond is currently dating Julia Evans, a British beau.
The pair met at a darts tournament in Southampton and quickly liked each other. Julia is also working as the player’s assistant manager.
The photos of Raymond and Julia kissing in a hotel lobby were public before the couple officially announced their relationship.
On Julia’s birthday, Raymond posted on Instagram with the caption:
“Today It’s the birthday of the love of my life Julia. Julia, I love you so much; I wish you a happy birthday, big Kisses and Hugs from Germany xxxxx.”
The two aren’t married yet. When asked about marriage, Julia remarked that she is compatible with Raymond and likes the idea of growing old together.
Even though the two get married, Raymond is against having children together. Raymond’s children are having children, which means he is already a granddad.
He explained that it would be peculiar and awkward for him to have children now. Fortunately, Julia shares the same view as Raymond. She also does not have any desire to have children.
Raymond Van Barneveld: Age, Body Measurements, and More
The dart player Raymond Van Barneveld was born in the year 1967. So, Raymond is currently 56 years old.
According to the Chinese calendar, the player was born in the Goat year. However, he is more fond of Tigers. Recently, he posted on Twitter saying:
“Happy Chinese New Year! Year of the Tiger … just saying 😉🐅 #Eyeofthetiger #YearOfTheTiger #Barneyarmy.”
Moreover, the player’s walk-on music is also “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor. Similarly, Raymond is also fond of Tattoos. He has an eye of the tiger tattooed on his back.
Likewise, Raymond weighs about 85 kg (187 lbs) and stands 6 feet 2 inches (187 cm). However, the other body measurements of the Dutch player are currently unknown.
Additionally, he has dark brown eyes and hair. Naturally, the player is left-handed. However, he uses his right hand to throw darts.
Similarly, Raymond’s zodiac is Aries. Sapiens with the Aries sign are passionate, hardworking, and enthusiastic.
They are also sharp and intense. Raymond Van Barneveld is no different.
Raymond Van Barneveld: Social Media
The Dutch player has a significant social media presence. He can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Raymond is on Instagram as @raybar180 and has 145k followers there. His successful darts career has attracted many fans. Likewise, he is also an inspirational figure and is looked upon by many.
Raymond is also on Twitter as @Raybar180 and has 244k followers there. The dart player is active on Twitter and uses the platform to tweet about current darts news and interact with his fans/followers.
Raymond follows darts players like Peter Wright, Garry Anderson, Michael Van Gerwen, Gerwyn Price, Fallon Sherrock, and Phil Taylor on Twitter.
Similarly, the player is also on Facebook as Raymond van Barneveld. He has 174k followers there.
In addition, Raymond also has his website, www.Barney.nl. You can access all the needed information from his website, including his career stats, achievements, results, and sponsors.
Moreover, Raymond also runs a shop via his website where he sells darts, T-shirts, and other merchandise.
(Note: The number of followers listed above on Barneveld’s social media accounts is as of Feb 2022).
Raymond Van Barneveld: Net Worth
Raymond Van Barneveld has had an outstanding career in the sport of darts. The 56 year-old has amassed a large sum of money throughout his successful darts career.
Raymond Van Barneveld’s net worth is somewhere around $6.2 million.
The Dutch player began playing darts at seventeen and continued for three decades. So, it is not surprising that he has collected millions of wealth.
However, Raymond was not always this rich. In his early days, Raymond used to work as a postman. He used to struggle to support his wife and three children on a monthly salary of slightly over $1000.
But then, as time passed, he began lifting world cup trophies and earning $40,000 a month. Further, the dart player has successfully landed a six-figure sponsorship agreement with Unicorn Darts.
Barneveld has also agreed with the Brass Darts firm as an endorser.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Raymond Van Barneveld’s sponsers?
Raymond is currently sponsored by Target Darts, Bengi, Premium Wine House, IQ Select, EMHA, and Draaijer Turbo Service.
Who are Raymond’s sports idols?
Initially, Raymond’s idols were Bob Anderson and Eric Bristow. However, once Raymond saw Phil Taylor winning his first world title, he truly got inspired by him.
According to Raymond, Phil Taylor was ‘just phenomenal.’
Which Darts does Raymond use?
The Dutch player used Target RVB95s. These darts are pencil-shaped and are somewhat thicker than typical.
The front half of the barrel is dimplex, while the rear half has typical razor-thin grooves along its length. Further, they are coated with Black titanium and are fitted with Target Fire points.
