Noa-Lynn van Leuven is the first transgender player to turn out at the World Darts Championship (Image: Getty)
Noa-Lynn van Leuven has been dumped out of the World Darts Championship by Kevin Doets after making history as the first transgender player to ever compete at the event.
Van Leuven has previously been given a tough time by darts crowds but she walked onto the Ally Pally stage amid a friendly atmosphere on Tuesday afternoon. She took the fight to Doets by winning the first set 3-1 to settle any early nerves.
And there will have been plenty, as she told Sky Sports before the match: “I’m really excited to be here, just a bit nervous. I love this crowd, the venue and the stage – I just want to go out and play.”
Van Leuven is no stranger to facing men in competitive action, as she turned out at the Grand Slam of Darts last month. But she was unable to make an impact in Wolverhampton, losing all three of her group matches against Michael van Gerwen, Ryan Joyce and Gary Anderson.
She may have thought that her first-set triumph over Doets – pinning double-tops to take it – was a sign of better things to come. But her compatriot rallied to win the next three sets on the trot and battle through to the second round.
Van Leuven certainly didn’t make it easy for the world No. 51, with her 87.02 average only just shy of his 88.13. But Doets found his rhythm in the second half of the contest to pull away.
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Nerves were on show from both players in the second set, with Doets holding his throw in 33 darts after a struggle on double-one. Another turning point unfolded in the third set, with Van Leuven failing to break with a 64 checkout which would have seen her throw for 2-1. Doets capitalised and went 2-1 up himself.
The final set went to a fifth-leg decider, with Doets hitting double-10 to set up a clash with Michael Smith. “It was a very tough game, especially in the beginning,” he told Sky Sports. “Every single leg we were fighting and fighting. The crowd was amazing though, they didn’t boo me or Noa.”
On his upcoming match with Smith, who came from two sets down to defeat him on the Ally Pally stage last December, Doets said: “When I saw that draw, it felt like the Gods wanted to give me another chance.
“It’s a really good feeling and hopefully I can beat him on Thursday. I just need to do the same as last year but without missing so many chances. This year it’s my turn.”