Phil Taylor's comments after Raymond van Barneveld announced his intention to retire in 2018 have resurfaced after the Dutchman suffered a first-round exit at this year's World Championship.
Van Barneveld, 58, was thrashed 3-0 by Switzerland's Stefan Bellmont on Wednesday night.
After winning just two legs in the match, the five-time world champion recorded an average of 92 against world number 111 Bellmont, who does not hold a PDC Tour Card.
Speaking in his post-match interview, a downbeat Van Barneveld reacted to the defeat. "It's been a really bad year," he began. "Ultimately, you have to pull yourself together. It's very difficult to answer this.
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"On the throw-in [practice] board, I've been world champion five times, maybe even 10 times. But somehow, it doesn't show in the matches."
"You don't want to suffer like this every week," added Van Barneveld, who hasn't reached the quarter final of a World Championship since 2018. "If you can only win two [legs] against someone who doesn't have a tour card, that speaks volumes."
Phil Taylor's comments after Raymond van Barneveld made retirement announcement in 2018
Shortly after Van Barneveld announced his intention to retire after the 2019-20 World Championship, Taylor paid tribute to his former rival, but admitted he wasn't surprised by the news.
"I wasn't one bit surprised. I knew. I said to him, 'You're getting to retire now bud," Taylor revealed in an interview with Live Darts TV in 2018. "It does hurt you, it was bad enough for me but he's travelled twice as much."
"He's in his fifties now. It becomes harder. You've got young lads coming through that are aggressive and who really don't care who Barney is. And it hurts him. It's hurting his feelings."
Taylor added: "He can walk away now, he's earned a lot of money and he can earn a cracking living just doing personal appearances."
Asked if Van Barneveld had made the right decision to retire, 'The Power' added: "I can't say whether it's the right or wrong decision really. I think if I was Barney, I would wait until after the World Championship and maybe if he wins the World Championship then re-evaluate it a little bit."
Taylor added: "He has got the game to win it. One hundred per cent. But has he got the mental strength at the minute? No."
Van Barneveld retired following the 2020 World Darts Championship but after spending a year away from the oche, he earned his PDC Tour Card through Q-School and got himself back in the top 32.
Topics: Darts, World Darts Championship
Jack Kenmare