AFTER winning the Budweiser UK Open last weekend, Raymond van Barneveld has now set his sights on a place in the Stan James World Matchplay.
The Dutchman picked up his first major ranking tournament since joining the PDC when he took the honours in Bolton with a 13-7 victory over Barrie Bates on Sunday.
After four days rest back in Holland, van Barneveld will head to the south coast of England on Friday to enter the PDPA Qualifiers for the World Matchplay.
Whilst he admits facing Andy Hamilton, ranked 33rd in the world, will be tough, van Barneveld is relishing the challenge of working his way into the major tournaments.
"I want to qualify for every tournament this year, and the World Matchplay is next," he said.
"I have Las Vegas after that, and it's a hard year for me.
"I hope I qualify for all the tournaments, maybe I won't but the UK Open win will push me further up the rankings and hopefully I will have a good weekend at Hayling Island in the Players Championship.
"Then I can move higher and higher up the rankings."
After reaching the semi-finals of the Holsten Premier League last month, van Barneveld was beaten by fellow countryman Roland Scholten in the last four.
And he admitted that he was doubly determined to triumph at the UK Open following the visit to Plymouth.
"I was very disappointed with that result and I said to myself that I'd focus on the UK Open, and this shows what can happen if you believe in yourself," he added.
"That gave me a lot of experience, along with winning the International Darts League in Holland."
The Dutchman defeated Phil Taylor for the first time since switching to the PDC with a dramatic 11-10 triumph in the quarter-finals.
"This means the world to me, showing everyone that I can win a tournament in the PDC and even beating Phil Taylor," said van Barneveld.
"It's always possible that Phil would be beaten by another player, but it's good for me that I beat him and won the tournament.
"It was a very good weekend for me and it is an amazing event. I played in the Swiss Open three years ago which was similar, but this was unbelievable.
"I didn't feel comfortable all day on Sunday, it was so warm and it costs you a lot of stamina and strength to make it into the final.
"After the game against Phil I was totally empty. I went to my hotel room and rested before the semi-final against John Magowan.
"To beat Phil is one thing. It's so hard to beat him in the best of 21 legs, or best of 25, and I didn't expect to meet him in the quarter-finals.
"It's very hard because you don't know who you will get. I had Bob Anderson and then Phil, and once the draw was made you don't have long to focus on that game.
"I was exhausted at the end, but I cannot say how happy I was."