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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Alan Selby

Darts star Raymond van Barneveld, 51, poses on hols with new younger lover, 34

Darts legend Raymond van Barneveld has hit the bullseye with a new love match.

The Dutch master, who is divorcing his wife, shared two shots of him and his new British girlfriend on social media.

In one, loved-up Barney, 51, and Julia Evans, 34, are sipping cocktails through straws and relaxing in Ibiza.

In the other Instagram picture they are reclining on sun loungers with drinks and tasty-looking nibbles.

Five-time world champ Barney wrote: “Ibiza a nice little break with my love.”

The pair were seen holidaying at Disneyland Paris earlier this year and in March Barney was spotted kissing darts fan Julia in a Devon hotel lobby.

He revealed he and wife Silvia, 52, had been living apart since January after their marriage became strained.

Darts star Raymond announced his separation from wife Silvia in January (Getty Images)

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Before news of their divorce broke, Silvia gave evidence in court about how armed burglars raided their family home in The Hague, Netherlands.

Barney had been away competing at an ­exhibition tournament.

Silvia was threatened with a gun after getting out of the shower, beaten and fled naked to a bush ­outside to ­escape the attackers.

Barney said: “I was at an exhibition in Scotland when three guys broke into my house at 6.15am on a Saturday when my wife was home alone.

“She had a loaded gun held at her head. I can’t forgive myself that I wasn’t there for her.

“She is afraid to live in the house.”

Barney, one of the most popular faces in world darts, said their relationship had suffered because he had to spend long periods away from home. In December, darts fan Julia announced plans to visit Alexandra Palace for the World Darts Championship.

Raymond is currently divorcing wife Silvia (David Hartley/REX/Shutterstock)

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But Barney, who has made more than ­£3million in prize money from the game, crashed out in round two, after a shock 3-2 loss to Darius Labanauskas.

Afterwards Barney said: “I’ve had enough of all the defeats, the late nights, the early wake-up calls, and ­living out of a suitcase for most of the year.

“Dealing with ­defeat is the hardest part. Sometimes you go on stage feeling good and two minutes later you’re gone.

“It eats away at your soul. You are ­losing the drive, losing the focus, and then the moment arrives when you don’t love the sport any more and only see it as a job. You have to be ­realistic, and maybe my time is done.

“There are no targets left, except one more world championship.”

In March Barney ­announced he planned to retire but swiftly reversed his decision.

He said at the time: “I hope people understand the ­difficult times my family and I have been going through and I need to get my head together”.

He reportedly said Julia had travelled with him to tournaments in the past but “without success because I always lost”.

After news of their relationship broke earlier this year his ­manager Jaco van Bodegom confirmed Julia worked as a ­manager in London.

He said: “She, of course, knows that Raymond is a famous public figure and that there will be ­speculation about him and her. Nevertheless, she and Barney hope for peace.

“They see each other regularly because they love each other, no matter how sad it may be for his almost ex-wife.”

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