Noa-Lynn van Leuven made history at the World Darts Championship this afternoon as she became the first transgender player to play on the Alexandra Palace stage.
The Dutchwoman faced Kevin Doets – who pushed then-reigning world champion Michael Smith all the way in the second round last year before slipping to defeat – in the second match of the afternoon session.
Van Leuven started well and took the opening set but Doets hit back to triumph 3-1, with the key being a mess of leg in the second set that he won with his 33rd dart after both players had missed countless darts at double. He now faces a rematch with Smith in round two on Thursday.
In her own words, the 28-year-old Van Leuven transitioned “about nine, 10 years ago” and was granted permission to compete in women’s darts in 2021. Along with Fallon Sherrock, she claimed one of two qualifying places via the Women’s Series although has endured hostility from some opponents, with Van Leuven saying she has faced “a lot of conservative, toxic b******s” on the women’s tour. She received a warm welcome from the Ally Pally crowd as she walked on to Euphoria by Loreen.
The afternoon session also sees the likes of Ryan Joyce and Darius Labanauskas in first-round action, while the second-round contest is the in-form Mike de Decker squaring off against Luke Woodhouse, who crusied through against Lourence Ilagan in round one. Follow all the action with our live blog below:
World Darts Championship: Ryan Joyce v Darius Labanauskas
An efficient first set from Ryan Joyce as he opens up with a 126 checkout before breaking the throw of Labanauskas and then hitting double 18 to seal a 3-0 triumph in the opening set.
Labanauskas still trying to get on the board with his first leg.
Luke Baker17 December 2024 14:51
World Darts Championship: Ryan Joyce v Darius Labanauskas
Next up on the Ally Pally stage is Ryan Joyce v Darius Labanauskas. The man nicknamed ‘Relentless’, who is a former World Championship quarter-finalist and the highest-ranked non-seeded player at 33 in the world, will hope to show all his resilience to get past Labanauskas.
The veteran Lithuanian once hit a nine-darter at the World Champs though, so is certainly no mug.
Luke Baker17 December 2024 14:33
World Darts Championship: Noa-Lynn van Leuven loses to Kevin Doets
Ruthless from Doets with a crucial 180 and he’s down on 100 with Van Leuven still stranded on 285. HE misses two amtch darts, one at double tops, one at double 10 but his opponent is noweher.
Another three darts at double to win the match and this time Kevin Doets makes no mistake, taking out double 10 to win the match 3-1!
Doets faces Michael Smith in round two for the second straight year. Solid debut performance from Van Leuven, who averaged 87.02, wih Doets averaging 88.13. Both players suffered slightly due to that mess of a 33-dart leg. A fun match though.
Kevin Doets 3-1 Noa-Lynn van Leuven
Luke Baker17 December 2024 14:24
World Darts Championship: Noa-Lynn van Leuven v Kevin Doets
Erm… Hello Noa-Lynn van Leuven! She fires in a 180 to start the fourth leg and FOLLOWS IT WITH ANOTHER! Six darts into a nine-darter. She couldn’t, could she?
No! Buzz in the crowd but the seventh dart is low of the treble 20, however she wraps up the leg in style to force a decider in this set. She has to win the next leg to take the match to a final set.
Doets 2-1 (Legs: 2-2) Van Leuven
Luke Baker17 December 2024 14:21
World Darts Championship: Noa-Lynn van Leuven v Kevin Doets
A fourth 180 of the match for Van Leuven to start leg three and the pressure transfers to Doets. A good 134 in response from him. He gets down to a finish first, at 135 and then sets himself up for 76 with Van Leuven going errant.
No mistake this time from Doets. He’s 2-1 up and a leg away from the next round.
Doets 2-1 (Legs: 2-1) Van Leuven
Luke Baker17 December 2024 14:19
World Darts Championship: Noa-Lynn van Leuven v Kevin Doets
Doets bangs in a 140 to start this second leg well and Van Leuven is wobbling now. Doets has two darts at double tops for the break of throw but they’re both high.
Van Leuven gutsily hits double 10 and we’re still on throw in this fourth set. She’s just about alive in this match.
Doets 2-1 (Legs: 1-1) Van Leuven
Luke Baker17 December 2024 14:18
World Darts Championship: Noa-Lynn van Leuven v Kevin Doets
Van Leuven witha chance of breaking Doets in the first leg but makes a horlicks of 126 and leaves herself still with 109. She comes back to the board but can’t find a treble so frustration reigns. Doets tidies up 25 and holds his throw to begin the fourth set. Two more holds and he’s into the next round.
Doets 2-1 (Legs: 1-0) Van Leuven
Luke Baker17 December 2024 14:16
World Darts Championship: Noa-Lynn van Leuven v Kevin Doets
Doets leaves himself 76 to win the set but misses the shot at double tops. Van Leuven can get back on level terms here… But she squanders a shot at 64 with a missed double and Doets tidies up to take the third set. He’s one set from glory now.
Doets 2-1 (Legs: 3-1) Van Leuven
Luke Baker17 December 2024 14:14
World Darts Championship: Noa-Lynn van Leuven v Kevin Doets
Kevin Doets starting to find his range now. How big might that mess of a third leg in the second set prove to be? He takes out 80 to break Van Leuven to begin the second set and backs it up with a hold of throw.
He then bangs in a 180 followed by 140 to put pressure on the Van Leuven throw in leg three but the Dutchwoman hits double 10 to narrow the gap to 2-1 in this set. Doets will throw for it now though.
Doets 1-1 (Legs: 2-1) Van Leuven
Luke Baker17 December 2024 14:11
