Dutchman eyes return to form after perfect leg in Aberdeen
Raymond van Barneveld is hoping that his magical nine-darter in Aberdeen can kick-start his season heading into the World Matchplay in Blackpool.
After five Premier League defeats in a row, Barney bounced back to form with an 8-6 victory over Terry Jenkins on Thursday, and included his second perfect nine-darter in the tournament.
The five-time World Champion is now bidding to end the season with wins over Mervyn King and Ronnie Baxter in his final two games and return to action at the StanJames.com World Matchplay in July in top form.
Barney cannot make it through to the semi-finals at Wembley next month, but he is hoping to build on his nine-darter and play his way back into form.
"To finish seventh or eighth in the Premier League is a poor performance from me because I've always been in the semi-finals in the last four years but now I'm fighting to finish as high as I can," van Barneveld said.
Rebuilding
"After Thursday I'm not thinking that I can sit back and think I'm back again - I almost gave Terry a draw when I was 6-1 up.
"It's still not perfect but I'm very happy with the win and I'm building for the future. The nine-darter was incredible and it's the first one on TV in Scotland so that's special for me.
"It could be a turning point and I believe I can have a good rest of the year.
"I've got to build, believe in myself and practice hard and I still believe that I can win majors in the future - if I play like I did on Thursday I can beat anyone."
Van Barneveld also hit a Premier League nine-darter back in 2006 in Bournemouth, and Thursday's came with a brand new set of darts in his hand.
Losing streak
After his five-match losing streak, van Barneveld says he vowed to build himself back up, after having problems both on and off the oche, and his mind is now focusing on Blackpool.
"I'd lost five weeks on the trot and even though you always try to do your best, the darts weren't going in and I was giving my opponents every chance to beat me," he said.
"Last week I looked in the mirror and said I had to change some things.
"It's not been the real Barney in the last few weeks but the fans deserve to know that I've had personal problems and my private life was upside down. That's in the past now I hope and I'm relieved.
"I've got work very hard because the other players are brilliant, and I'm back in the gym, on a diet and I hope will be back fit and well in the World Matchplay.
"I'm more of a knockout player and I can focus better on knockout games than a league and I'll look forward to Blackpool."
