RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD is facing a fight to keep his place inside darts' elite top 16 ahead of next month's partypoker.com World Grand Prix.
The Dutch star has slipped to 16th in the PDC Order of Merit after seeing both Kim Huybrechts and Justin Pipe jump above him following last weekend's Players Championships in Crawley.
However, with van Barneveld 'defending' £7,500 on his ranking total - based on price money won in a two-year period - when he travels to the European Darts Trophy in Germany this weekend, the pressure is on as the five-time World Champion fights to stay inside the sport's elite.
With the top 16 players guaranteed places in October's partypoker.com World Grand Prix and The Unibet Masters in Edinburgh in November, van Barneveld admits that he is in a completely new situation after almost a decade at the top of the PDC rankings.
"It's weird because usually I've always been in the top four in the world," he said. "This weekend's really important because I'm dropping down the rankings big time at the moment.
"If you drop out of the top 16 then you are not automatically selected for the biggest TV tournaments so I’m working really hard, but these guys nowadays are so fantastic - look at Robert Thornton, who this year won three ProTours on the spin, which is amazing.
"I'm just playing my game and sometimes it's not in my hands if I do not perform well. If I can't manage it then it's up to me to work harder and play better and more consistent.
"It's a good warning for me to go back and get on the practise board. I'm hoping to get my form back for the rest of the year."
The reigning Premier League champion and a World Cup winner with Michael van Gerwen this year, van Barneveld has also won the Grand Slam of Darts in the past two years.
Crucially, though, the prize money from invitational events does not count towards Order of Merit totals, leading the Dutchman to concede: "It is unlucky.
"I've been winning major titles which I'm really proud of, from winning the Grand Slam and beating the best players from both bodies and then the Premier League.
"You can't say that you had a good draw in the Premier League because you have to play everyone twice and then obviously beat the guys in the semi-finals and the final.
"The World Cup of Darts was great fun as well playing with Michael van Gerwen but you have to start all over again.
"You can't sit back and rely on the things you've done in the past; I'm five-time World Champion but what does that mean today if you don't hit your scores or your doubles?"
Tickets for the partypoker.com World Grand Prix, to be held from October 6-12 at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin, are still available.
Special Offers!
** Six For Five! Buy six tickets for any session of the tournament, and only pay for five! **
** Kids Go Free! Accompanied Under-18s are entitled to free tickets for Monday & Tuesday **
** Darts, Golf & Hotel Package! The Citywest Hotel are offering a package for €85 per person for accommodation, one round of golf at the Citywest Hotel and a ticket for the World Grand Prix on Monday or Tuesday, based on two people sharing a room. **
How To Purchase
Tickets are available through the following methods:
* Online through SeeTickets at http://pdc.seetickets.com
* Telephone Sales (Ireland) 0818 776378 (Calls cost 6 cents per minute plus standard network charge)
* Telephone Sales direct with the Citywest Hotel on 00353 (0)1 401 0505 or by email at darts14@citywesthotel.com.
* Telephone Sales (UK) 0844 871 8807 (calls cost 6p per minute from a BT landline plus standard network charge)