Skip to content
en
  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.
en

+31 (0)73 613 30 30

Raymond van Barneveld

The mailman that threw darts professionally

Before the name Raymond van Barneveld became known, darts was a game people played in the pub. Just throwing some darts for fun. In the same way, the man later nicknamed "Barney" started out on his road to glory. It became obvious pretty quickly that he was a lot better than the average regular in the pub. Raymond decided to test his skills in a real competition.  

For a long time, those tournaments took place in backstage halls. From the minimal prize money that he earned with this, young Raymond could not live. His solution was to deliver mail during the day. After success at a tournament in Malta in 1990, the Dutchman was allowed to compete on the world stage. There, the mailman failed to hit the bullseye. Australian Keith Sullivan threw him off 3-0 in sets.

A young Raymond van Barneveld with a darts trophy
Raymond van Barneveld balt zijn vuist

Revanche
But Barney did not get discouraged. Four years later, he tried again. This time with more success. Because although he lost the world championship final 6-3 to Englishman Richie Burnett, his name was established. Yet it was only in 1998 that his real revenge followed: after two bad years, he managed to win the world title this time. 

The Netherlands welcomed him as a hero. It is thanks to Barney that the term 'triple twenty' rings a bell with many people. And the song 'Eye of the Tiger' is also forever linked to Raymond's rise on the battlefield. 

In the years that followed, the professional dart player continues to win important matches to his name, including the World Professional Darts Championship four times (Lakeside Frimley Green) and the World Darts Championship in 2007 (Alexandra Palace, 'Ally Pally'). His success attracted the attention of companies in the Netherlands. In paricular, that of JVH Gaming, the Netherlands' largest provider of electronic games of chance. When JVH came out with an electronic dartboard in 1995, Raymond van Barneveld was the perfect ambassador to accompany this introduction. Capital Sports (then Capital Advertising) had been working with JVH Gaming for years and took care of the entire production and international campaign.

Be ahead of the competition like Barney?

Get in touch

Also in our hall of fame

More success stories

Laughing PSV players during a photoshoot for Anycoin Direct

Anycoin Direct
PSV

Despite its Dutch roots and success in Europe, Anycoin Direct does not yet occupy the nr. 1 position in the Netherlands when looking at the ranking of number of users. This is something they want to change with the sponsorship of PSV.

>>
Ajacied Abdelhak Nouri makes a heart symbol with his hands

MIKKY KI.
Nouri Foundation

Exactly five years after his cardiac arrest, the family of 'Appie' called the Abdelhak Nouri Foundation into being to help people play and play sports together in a safe environment. A mission dear to Mikky Kiemeney's heart.

>>
Campaign image Invicta Watch for S1-collection on TT Circuit Assen

Invicta Watch
S1 & TT Assen

Speedy, stylish, and sporty: that's Invicta's S1 collection. Features that you also find in the racing world. Therefore, there could only be one location to put this collection on film: the historic TT Circuit in Assen.

>>
Portrait photo Heidi Andersson for campaign Unidek

Unidek
Heidi Andersson

A match of arm wrestling is something we've all done at one time or another. Some with more success than others. With Sweden's Heidi Andersson, the balance often tipped in her favor. This woman from northern Lapland turned out to be a natural.

>>
Capital Sports