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Raymond van Barneveld
Photo:
Adam Davy / dpa
The five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld (54) tested positive for the corona virus after his second round defeat at the Darts World Cup.
The Dutchman announced this late on Christmas Eve via Twitter.
In the match against ex-world champion Rob Cross (England) on Christmas day, he had not yet felt any symptoms, wrote van Barneveld, and now he is suffering from shortness of breath, fever and severe fatigue.
"We have already spoken to Rob Cross and the PDC about the situation," wrote van Barneveld, who will be in quarantine in London for the next few days. The darts association PDC has not yet commented on the consequences of the positive test. After the Christmas break, the Alexandra Palace will continue on December 27th (Monday). Cross is due to play against Northern Ireland's Daryl Gurney on Tuesday.
Van Barneveld had ended his short break on the darts tour at the beginning of the season, at the PDC World Championship, which he won in 2007, he only had one win this year. In a duel between two ex-world champions, Rob Cross prevailed 3-1 against van Barneveld. The 2018 champion turned up after a strong start from the five-time title holder »Barney«. In the first set, van Barneveld was the second player to check the highest possible finish at this World Cup with 170 points.
The crowd favorite van Barneveld (running-in music: "Eye Of The Tiger" by Survivor) failed two years ago in the preliminary round twice in a row.
Back then, he put himself under pressure and said, “If you lose two years in a row in the first round, then you're an amateur.
Then you don't belong in this game anymore.
I'll tell myself that until the end of my life. "
A few hours before the news of his positive test, "Barney" assured his fans, despite the early retirement, that he was "still motivated" and wanted to come back "stronger next year."
ara / sid
