Chris Mason tips Barney for Premier League Darts- if he wins his tour card back at q-school.

With the tenth Premier League spot yet to be filled, Mason believes that the hype of Barney’s comeback would be enough to secure him that place.

“If he gets a tour card I think they’ll put him in, and they’ll blame Sky of course.”

“Everyone thinks I’m on a wind up. But TV and numbers are such a big thing now because there’s so many channels out there. And if you have great viewership, negotiating with big brands for advertising is huge.”

With the success that the PDC have had in staging the Premier League in Rotterdam, Mason thinks that his mass appeal to the Dutch market could factor into the selection process.

“He’s massive in the Netherlands. Of course RTL 7 are one of the broadcasters, and they do even bigger numbers than we do I think-on Sky at least.”

“I watched the media scramble around Barneveld and his announced return. The amount of sponsorship- he looked like a Formula One driver!”

“All of those deals will be based on him getting back on TV- otherwise they’re pointless.”

Whilst the ITV pundit tips Barney for Premier League darts, he would not agree with that choice.

“I don’t condone it by the way. He shouldn’t have been in it the last time he was in it (2019)”

 

“I don’t want to see the Barneveld that gives it all the look with the eyes, and then looks like he wants to cry 10 minutes later.”

Mason has backed the return of the five time World Champion, but only if he shows more fight than he did in his final year.

“I am 100% behind Barneveld’s comeback, but I don’t want to see any negativity, no shaking of the head, I don’t want to see that horrible attitude that he can’t be assed. If it did happen he’d be taking someone else’s opportunity.”

“Take the Eye of the Tiger, all that look, all that come ‘come on let’s have a fight’ and take it on stage. I don’t want to see it on the walk-on, I want to see it on the oche. I want to see you graft and grind”

Despite the doubts over Barney’s comeback, Mason hopes that this revival of Barney’s career can bring back the best version of the Dutchman.

“He’s one of the very elite, one of the greatest players the sport’s ever produced. And he’s excellent to watch when he’s on it. That’s the Barneveld I want to see. I don’t want to see him back because of how much money is involved. I want to see him back because his passion’s back, he’s got the desire to win more. That Barneveld is just one thing and that’s great for the game.”

You can check out the full hour-long interview where Mason tips Barney for Premier League Darts below: