Raymond van Barneveld opens up on World Darts Championship shame but legend reveals why he can't quit the sport

Darts legend Raymond van Barneveld admits he is ashamed of his Ally Pally demise.

But the Dutch legend says he simply cannot afford to quit the game and will have eye tests in the New Year to prolong his career. Barney exited the World Darts Championship in dismal fashion with a woeful loss to Nick Kenny.

The 57-year-old admitted: “I am completely off the map. I am deeply ashamed of this performance.”

Barney says he was struggling with flu and continued: “I didn’t want to mention it on television. Then people think: He has that as an excuse again. I took vitamins, cough medicine, and lozenges. But in a hotel room you can’t say: I’ll take a bucket and steam.

“All the energy is out. You look forward to this all year, for days you deliberately don’t shake hands and do everything you can to not get sick and then you get sick. Then you’re a grandfather. And yes, then people will say: That’s him again.

"But when your nose is stuffed up and you can barely breathe, you don’t have the strength to play your game. I was physically completely drained. I didn’t have the strength to turn the tide. I felt no fighting spirit, just let it happen to me. I thought: please throw those doubles, then I can go to bed.”

Barney is adamant he will keep going as he said: “Beforehand I said: if I do not have the feeling that I can still win, what is the reason to continue? But that feeling was there. You never know how it would have gone without the flu. I have to think hard again if I want to suffer another year. I don’t think I’m looking forward to that very much.

“But I have to keep going. There is no alternative. What can you do? Play the MODUS Super Series for 750 pounds? If I stop, I lose sponsors and prize money, then I don’t know if I can