BDO 'will survive Barneveld exit'

Barneveld (right) wants to test himself against Taylor

Raymond van Barneveld's decision to switch darts organisations will not destroy the group he left behind, says the British Darts Organisation (BDO).

The Dutchman, four-time winner of the Lakeside World Championship, has joined the Professional Darts Corporation to play alongside the great Phil Taylor.

"No man is bigger than the sport," said BDO spokesman Robert Holmes. "And the BDO represents the grass roots.

"It fosters players from youth level to the pinnacle, which is the Lakeside."

Barneveld switches to face Taylor

Van Barneveld is the 11th former BDO world champion to play in the PDC event.

But Holmes cites Jelle Klaasen's victory over van Barneveld in last month's Lakeside final as proof that the BDO's ranks are constantly being rejuvenated.

"Players like Jelle can only come through the World Darts Federation system, to which the BDO is affiliated. There is no way that could happen within the PDC.

"When the game split down the middle in 1993 a lot of people said that was the end of the BDO, but since then we have continued to get on with the job of running the sport."