Game on! Dutch darts world hits the Bullseye

AMSTERDAM - Sometimes derided as a game played over a pint in British pubs, darts is a huge deal in the Netherlands.

Boards can be found in every pub, the grassroots game is massive and growing, TV coverage is extensive, and the exploits of top "darters" make national headline news.

The latest Dutch hero is Michael van Gerwen (or "MvG") and more than 12,000 fans sold out the Rotterdam Ahoy arena to see him compete in the Premier League, which pits the world's top eight players against each other.

Well-oiled fans, many in orange fancy dress, went crazy every time players hit the maximum 180, punctuating their screams with regular chants of "Stand up if you love the darts" which brought everyone to their feet.

But the roof really came off when Van Gerwen strode to the stage in his trademark bright green shirt. The fans cheered every dart MvG threw, but to no avail -- he lost to world number one Luke Humphries.

Why is darts so popular in the Netherlands? Three words: Raymond van Barneveld.

A former postman from The Hague, Van Barneveld, now 57, has a decent claim to be the best player ever to throw a dart.

In 1998, "Barney" was the first Dutchman to win a world championship, the first of five in a career that included his 7-6 win over Phil "The Power" Taylor in the 2007 final many consider the best match of all time.

That 1998 win at the iconic Lakeside venue catapulted darts into the Dutch consciousness and broke the monopoly of British champions, paving the way for it to be the more global sport it is today.

"It was unbelievable," he told AFP in his office, a treasure trove of darts memorabilia, with trophies and championship photos lining every wall -- except the one with his three practice boards.

"The television viewing figures were insane. Some people said to me over five million viewers. Back then we had only 15 million people in Holland," he told AFP.

"I got a tulip named after me... When I came through (Amsterdam's) Schiphol Airport, it was like the Beatles were arriving at Schiphol. I was shocked."

After a brief retirement, Van Barneveld is fighting his way back up the rankings. 

The "Barney Army" that supported him around the world was still in evidence in Rotterdam, periodically chanting his name even though he's now far from the top eight.