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Raymond van Barneveld can expect more high-level support from the GOAT of darts when he embarks on his historic 30th appearance at the World Championship this month.

Two years into a largely underwhelming comeback, Barney is on cloud nine ahead of the Alexandra Palace extravaganza after his dream run to the semi-finals of the Grand Slam last month.

The Dutch master defeated world number one Gerwyn Price not once but twice in Wolverhampton and only narrowly lost to eventual winner Michael Smith in the last four.

READ MORE: Gerwyn Price vows to end Raymond Van Barneveld jinx if pair meet at World Championship

The run catapulted the five-time world champion up the rankings, meaning he heads to the Ally Pally as the 32nd and last seed. Therefore, he will begin his campaign in the second round against either Ryan Meikle or Lisa Ashton, with a rematch against Price potentially on the cards in round three.

Throughout his run at the Grand Slam, Van Barneveld received messages of support and encouragement from his great rival-turned-friend Phil Taylor – and the Power will be in his corner again at the Worlds.

“I saw him at an exhibition last week and he said he’d keep sending me these things. It [the messages] was completely out of the blue but I really enjoyed it,” Barney, a veteran of 29 World Championships across the BDO and the PDC, told Daily Star Sport.

“It’s not that he does it all the time but he loves it when I’m playing well. I’ve got a fan, a supporter, so brilliant!”

How far will Barney go at the World Championship? Tell us in the comment section below.

Taylor, still active on the World Seniors Tour, said recently that Van Barneveld’s re-emergence as a force had rekindled his interest in watching the sport. Barney can understand that and said he would be the same if the roles were reversed.

“It’s because of the bond we have,” he added. “We played so many games with each other. I would maybe be the same if Phil was back on stage.

“You have the same faces every week, then if you see someone else and he’s playing really well, I think I would enjoy watching it too.”

Van Barneveld begins his World Championship campaign against Meikle or Ashton on Tuesday, December 20.

The Cazoo World Darts Championship can be watched exclusively live on Sky Sports from December 15-January 3.

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• Raymond van Barneveld
• Darts

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