RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD has tipped teenage Dutch star Michael van Gerwen for an "amazing future" in darts.
The 17-year-old was in scintillating form at the Topic International Darts League, winning through to the quarter-finals of the event before losing 6-3 to van Barneveld.
He was tied at 3-3 with van Barneveld during the contest, twice hitting seven perfect darts for a possible nine-dart leg, landing seven maximums and averaging 97.13.
Van Gerwen also won the recent Open Holland, and van Barneveld expects the youngster to pick up plenty more silverware during his career.
"He's something else," van Barneveld told PlanetDarts.tv.
"There's something special going on in youth darts in Holland - I've seen the play in the Bullit Junior competition this week and they are such good players.
"But what Michael is doing is amazing. He won the Norway Open, the Northern Ireland Open, was runner-up in the British Open and then won the PDC's Open Holland recently. It's unreal.
"When we played, three times he hit seven darts for a nine-darter and he has an amazing future ahead of him.
"I've followed Dutch players for years, but you can't follow him, he's so quick and fast.
"I can't tell you how big a future he has - but if he hasn't got a sponsor, I'll sponsor him!"
Van Barneveld admitted taking on the emerging star was similar to when he faced Jelle Klaasen in the Lakeside showpiece back in January.
"I knew it was going to be hard for me," he added. "I thought it would be like being against Jelle in the Lakeside Final in January, with the crowd against me and behind the youngster.
"They were more divided today, they cheered for me too, and it made for a great game.
"When I got the eighth set, I thought that was crucial to go 5-3 up and I knew if I held my throw it was mine.
"This tournament is different now, the first six days were in groups but it's knockout now."
Van Barneveld will take on Australian Simon Whitlock in Saturday's best of 17 set semi-finals, after the Australian's dramatic 6-5 defeat of Phil Taylor.
The other semi-final sees world number one Colin Lloyd meet Dutchman Roland Scholten.