Raymond van Barneveld has hailed Luke Littler’s talent as ‘out of this world’ ahead of their opening round clash at the Machineseeker European Championship.
The pair will lock horns in a battle of the darting generations in Dortmund on Friday evening, as the irrepressible 18-year-old takes on the sport’s most seasoned star.
Littler has won four of the five televised ranking events on offer this year, following up his World Championship heroics with UK Open, World Matchplay and World Grand Prix glory.
The teenage sensation is now setting his sights on a maiden European Championship crown this weekend, which would see him overhaul Luke Humphries and become the new world number one.
Van Barneveld has enjoyed iconic rivalries with darting juggernauts Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen during his glittering career, and believes Littler falls into a similar bracket.
However, the Dutch icon insists he won’t be overawed by the prospect of facing the World Champion for a place in Round Two at the Westfalenhalle.
“I have big respect for Luke. When he has that drive to win something, then usually he wins it,” conceded Van Barneveld.
“When you watch him sometimes it’s like he has a fourth dart! I’ve seen a lot in my life, playing against the likes of Phil [Taylor] and Michael [van Gerwen], but this young man is out of this world.
“When he goes to his top level, then nobody can stop him, but when people say you’ve got nothing to lose playing against Luke, I don’t agree with that.
“Of course you have everything to lose, because you want to make progress, you want to win. That’s why you play darts.
“Luke is the man to beat, but I’m playing well, I’m focused, and I’m not scared of him. I just play the board.”
Van Barneveld forced his way into this year’s 32-player field following a strong end to the European Tour season, which included a quarter-final appearance at last month’s Swiss Darts Trophy.
The five-time World Champion also averaged 107.97 to demolish Dave Chisnall at the Hungarian Darts Trophy a week prior – his highest average in a big stage event since June 2018.
“I feel really confident with the current set-up, so hopefully in the next few months I can get some good results,” added Van Barneveld, a two-time European Championship semi-finalist.
“It’s important that I stick to the same set-up now. I’ve gone back to shorter shafts and in my head, I’m making more progress.
“I’m playing well, but against the likes of Gerwyn Price, Jonny Clayton and Gary Anderson, who I have played recently, you need to be quality to beat these guys.”
Littler has won two of his previous three meetings against Van Barneveld - including both televised ties – although the Dutchman ran out a 6-2 winner during their most recent meeting on the ProTour 12 months ago.
Van Barneveld has also never averaged below 99 against the Warrington wonderkid – a record he will surely have to maintain if he’s to triumph in Dortmund.
“If I can beat the World Champion and the current world number two, that would be a massive result of course,” continued the 58-year-old.
“I’m not in a position to look too far ahead. I’m doing okay, but it’s not like the old Ray anymore.
“I have to be realistic. In the big majors over the last two years it’s not happened for me, but who is to say what will happen in the future?”
The Machineseeker European Championship is being broadcast live on ITV in the UK, through the PDC's worldwide broadcast partners including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV (excluding subscribers based in the UK, Germany, Austria & Switzerland).
2025 Machineseeker European Championship
Friday October 24 (1900-2300 CEST, 1800-2200 BST)
Round One x8
Niko Springer v Jermaine Wattimena
Gary Anderson v Cameron Menzies
James Wade v Mike De Decker
Josh Rock v Ricardo Pietreczko
Luke Humphries v Krzysztof Ratajski
Luke Littler v Raymond van Barneveld
Nathan Aspinall v Rob Cross
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Danny Noppert