Saturday 30 March 2019 12:18, UK
Raymond van Barneveld will continue his career for the rest of this year after reconsidering his decision to retire.
The Dutch legend announced on Thursday that he would stop playing with immediate effect after back-to-back Premier League Darts defeats in Rotterdam.
He had originally planned to continue until the conclusion of the next World Darts Championship, which begins in December.
A statement on Friday read: "For months my life has been a rollercoaster of emotions.
"In my private life there have been so many troubles, and as a dart player you try not to but you take all that with you on stage.
"I was humbled that I was given the chance to play in the Premier League this year and really wanted to show everybody the true Barney, but it was only glimpses that I could give.
"My personal problems got the better of me and I was always catching up to my opponents on stage. Yesterday all those emotions came together and I couldn't handle that at that moment.
"I felt ashamed on stage in front of my family, my friends and the Barney Army. I felt I let everyone down and that pain was very hard to deal with.
"In the heat of the moment I only wanted to never feel that again, but I realise that I should not speak out like that when I feel such raw emotion.
"I want to end my career at Alexandra Palace during one final World Championship.
"I hope people understand the difficult times my family and I have been going through and I need to get my head together.
"I will take a couple of days off for this and then try to compete as well as I can in the floor tournaments out of the spotlight in the coming weeks."
Van Barneveld is a five-time world champion and Premier League 2007 winner. He has been eliminated from this season's Premier League but is now expected to play in forthcoming Players Championships events, and the German Darts Open.
The Premier League continues as we head to the SSE Arena in Belfast on Thursday, April 4. You can also stay up-to-date with all the action by following us @SkySportsDarts and get all the latest news, previews and interviews www.skysports.com/darts
The remaining fixture list
Night 10 - Thursday, April 4 - SSE Arena, Belfast
Mensur Suljovic v James Wade
Michael Smith v Peter Wright
Rob Cross v Daryl Gurney
Michael van Gerwen v Gerwyn Price
Night 11 - Thursday, April 11 - M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool
Rob Cross v Peter Wright
Gerwyn Price v Mensur Suljovic
James Wade v Daryl Gurney
Michael Smith v Michael van Gerwen
Night 12 - Thursday, April 18 - Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff
Mensur Suljovic v Daryl Gurney
Rob Cross v Michael van Gerwen
Michael Smith v Gerwyn Price
Peter Wright v James Wade
Night 13 - Thursday, April 25 - Arena Birmingham
Mensur Suljovic v Michael Smith
Rob Cross v Gerwyn Price
Daryl Gurney v Peter Wright
James Wade v Michael van Gerwen
Night 14 - Thursday, May 2 - Manchester Arena
James Wade v Gerwyn Price
Daryl Gurney v Michael van Gerwen
Peter Wright v Mensur Suljovic
Rob Cross v Michael Smith
Night 15 - Thursday, May 9 - FlyDSA Arena, Sheffield
Michael Smith v James Wade
Mensur Suljovic v Rob Cross
Daryl Gurney v Gerwyn Price
Michael van Gerwen v Peter Wright
Night 16 - Thursday, May 16 - First Direct Arena, Leeds
Gerwyn Price v Peter Wright
James Wade v Rob Cross
Michael van Gerwen v Mensur Suljovic
Daryl Gurney v Michael Smith
