Van Barneveld played a disappointing World Championship in December and has been recovering from a severe flu ever since.
The 57-year-old former five-time world champion even admitted to considering canceling his participation in the Dutch Darts Masters in his home country, but a deal with himself compelled Van Barneveld to stick with it.
"After the last World Championship I had a good talk with myself," said Van Barneveld during the post-game press conference.
"It was unwatchable. I haven't been feeling 100 percent for about a month, I caught a severe flu and even considered not coming this weekend.
"But I told myself: 'I am just gonna enjoy this coming year'. Just enjoy the game."
Van Barneveld hasn't won a televised tournament since the 2018 Darts World Cup and has been struggling to find his joy, but the home tournament in the Dutch city of 's Hertogenbosch is doing Barney well.
"I should be grateful for being able to play some tournaments, among which this fantastic tournament with this unbelievable crowd.
"The crazy thing is that I felt quite happy tonight. I thought: 'Come on, just throw. If it doesn't feel good, it's okay.'
Van Barneveld beat Chris Dobey 6-5 after a thrilling contest and ended the game with a stellar finish from 144 out.
"After that 144... I got a smile on my face and it was pretty weird, because I don't have this often.
"To finish 144 with a 5-5 score, that's class and I'm proud of myself for that because I haven't done anything the past month. I barely picked up a dart. I think Wednesday was the first time I picked up a dart again."
Two or three more years
Van Barneveld has played professional darts for the better part of 30 years and has given himself a timetable to hold onto in his twilight years.
"You work towards the World Championship for a whole year and eventually it doesn't fit.
"I got plenty of chances. I didn't have a fighting spirit, I didn't have energy, I had absolutely nothing and eventually that cost me the World Championship.
"I told myself that I have maybe two or three years left in me so just go out there and enjoy it like I can."
The veteran came out to a roaring crowd which loudly cheered their hero on with the famous 'Barney Army' chant.
"What a fantastic crowd and how fantastic it is to be in my own country. I had to swallow during that walk-on with the 'Barney Army', my kids were here...
"I thought to myself: 'Wow, there aren't many out there who can do this' and as long as I can do that, I will give that and who knows how much will come from it."
Bunting
Van Barneveld will meet Bahrain Masters champion Stephen Bunting during Saturday's quarter-finals and the Dutch home hero strongly refuses to count himself out of the contest with the rising Englishman.
"I will try everything to get as much out of it as possible and continue it as long as possible, because we all know I have it in me.
"Tomorrow, we get Stephen Bunting and then, too, I'm not hopeless. When I get enough rest, I have faith in myself, and I work hard, everything is possible.
"My dear grandmother always told me that. She said: 'Raymond, if you want it, you can do everything'.
"And believe me, this little boy had nothing growing up, and now I have five crosses on my shirt just by visualising and by telling myself that I can do it.
"And tonight with that 144, that gave me so much happiness... I hadn't experienced that in years."
