NOS Sport•today, 3:44 PM
Noa-Lynn van Leuven failed to reach the second round of the Darts World Cup. The first Dutch woman ever to compete in a world championship of the PDC darts association lost 1-3 to compatriot Kevin Doets in the first round.
Of the 96 participants, besides Van Leuven, the English Fallon Sherrock is the only other woman participating in this year’s tournament. Only five other women have ever graced the stage of ‘Ally Pally’, the famous hall in North London. Van Leuven is also the first trans person to participate in the World Cup.
The 28-year-old Van Leuven saw the first leg that she started go to Doets, and then won three legs in a row and thus the first set.
Perpetual laying
With her first 180’er (three arrows in the triple-20) she seemed to break Doets in the third leg of the second set, but Van Leuven missed opportunity after opportunity to take a 2-0 lead. Ultimately, her opponent decided the almost eternal leg with his 33rd arrow (!), meaning that the set still slipped through Van Leuven’s fingers and went to Doets.
Van Leuven then had to watch as Doets also won the third set. With two 180’s in a row (she threw a total of six) she came back to 2-2 in legs in the fourth set, but Doets did not let go of his prey and used his first match dart.
Despite the elimination, Van Leuven says she is proud of her participation. “I am very proud that I can stand here, after everything I have been through. As the first Dutch woman, let’s keep it that way. I want to put Dutch women’s darts on the map and mean something to people from my community with my visibility here. I fight for everyone, hope to inspire enough people. Everyone can be themselves.”
About the missed opportunities in the match against Doets, Van Leuven says: “If you are standing there, you want to win. I missed a lot of points on the double in that one, that has to be improved. But I can be satisfied. I started strong and took the first set. I know what I need to work on and will hopefully be back next year.”
Doets on repeat
Kevin Doets will face Michael Smith next Thursday, the second-seeded Briton who knocked him out in the second round last year.
Later in the day, Wesley Plaisier will take action. He will face Peter Wright in the second round. The Scot with the colored mohawk won the World Cup twice, in 2020 and 2022.
