'Wouldn't wish that on anyone': Van Barneveld sympathizes with Van Gerwen after his own previous personal struggles

Raymond van Barneveld is approaching his highly anticipated World Matchplay opener against Michael van Gerwen with realism—and perspective. While their past encounters once guaranteed fireworks and elite-level darts, the Dutch legend acknowledges that times have changed. And that’s perfectly fine with him.

The draw for the 2025 World Matchplay, which gets underway at Blackpool’s iconic Winter Gardens on July 19, produced an eye-catching fixture right out of the gate: a showdown between the two most decorated Dutch players in history. Yet, with neither man currently in peak form, the buzz around this encounter is more subdued than in their heyday.

For Van Barneveld, this shift in tone is understandable—especially in light of Van Gerwen’s off-stage challenges. The three-time world champion is currently going through a divorce, a situation Van Barneveld empathizes with deeply.

“That’s incredibly tough,” Van Barneveld told Sportnieuws.nl. “What’s happening in Michael’s private life is terrible. You wouldn’t wish that on anyone. But at the end of the day, you have to find your way through it yourself. I’ve been through that with my own divorce. People can offer support, but it’s still something you have to process alone.”

A Different Kind of Draw

Unlike in recent years, where Van Barneveld often faced lower-profile opponents in the early rounds, this year’s pairing against Van Gerwen has brought a renewed sense of focus and structure to his preparation.

“With Michael, you know what you're going to get. He’s always on it. With players like Jonny Clayton or Ryan Searle, you’re never quite sure which version is going to show up,” he explained. “But Van Gerwen doesn’t leave openings. You know you have to be sharp from the first dart, probably average 100—and sometimes even that’s not enough.”

Though Van Gerwen recently returned to the circuit following a month-long break, his performances have been well below his usual standards. Still, Van Barneveld isn’t reading too much into that.

“Michael knows exactly what he has to do when it’s me on the other side of the stage,” he said. “He’ll be up for it. If he’s not, I’ll make him work for it, and he knows that. He’s got to be sharp—because I will be.”