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 saw the in-form Mike de Decker stunned by unseeded Luke Woodhouse, who impressed to win 3-1 and knock out one of the players fancied for the title. Relive all the action with our live blog below:
World Darts Championship - live updates
- The World Darts Championship continues at Alexandra Palace
- Noa-Lynn van Leuven makes history as the first transgender player to compete at the World Darts Champs
- She won the first set against Kevin Doets but went on to lose 3-1
- REPORT: Stag-do crowd embraces World Championship’s first transgender player on historic day for darts
- World Grand Prix winner Mike de Decker stunned as he loses 3-1 to Luke Woodhouse
REPORT: Stag-do crowd embraces World Championship’s first transgender player on historic day for darts
16:40 , Luke BakerAs Noa-Lynn van Leuven approached the stage, red hair flowing and lipstick shimmering under the lights, it was hard to know what the reaction would be.
Throughout the long history of sporting crowds, from the Colosseum of Rome to this cathedral of darts just off the north circular, at their most basic level they can choose a binary response to their environment, with cheers or with boos. How would the World Championship at Alexandra Palace respond to its first transgender competitor?
A few minutes earlier there had been a gentle hum of boos as Van Leuven’s face was displayed on screen for a pre-match interview. There were a few wolf whistles as she stepped to her mark at the start of the runway. But if there were any murmurings of disapproval as she stepped on stage, they were drowned out firstly by her walkout song, Euphoria by Loreen, and then by the majority of giddy fans.
Perhaps the people sitting around this collection of folding tables in Alexandra Palace are a useful bellwether for the great British public, distilled down to its most revered cultural tradition: a giant stag-do. It was 1pm on a Tuesday afternoon and most of the room was already half-cut, when in walked a transgender athlete. And, broadly, she was welcomed.
Read Lawrence Ostlere’s full piece from Alexandra Palace:
Stag-do crowd embraces World Darts Championship’s first transgender player
World Darts Championship: Luke Woodhouse stuns Mike De Decker
16:37 , Luke BakerIt was an impressive win for Luke Woodhouse and he’ll face Damon Heta or Connor Scutt in the next round - he’ll fancy winning that and having a bit of a run.
WOODY ELIMINATES DE DECKER!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 17, 2024
Luke Woodhouse eliminates the World Grand Prix champion, as he beats Mike De Decker 3-1 to book his place in the third round.
📺 https://t.co/pIQvhqYxEj #WCDarts | R2 pic.twitter.com/vO3nThoO8W
World Darts Championship: Mike De Decker stunned by Luke Woodhouse
16:27 , Luke BakerClass by Luke Woodhouse - three darts in treble 18 to get to a finish first at 140. Then gets it down to 90 and De Decker is flailing, leaving himself 177.
So six darts at 90 for Woodhouse to win the match. HE’S DONE IT! TAKES OUT 90, FINISHING ON DOUBLE TOPS AND LUKE WOODHOUSE BEATS MIKE DE DECKER 3-1.
That goes down as a big shock given De Decker’s form this year. But Woodhouse was brilliant and he’ll fancy going deep in this tournament now. He looks full of confidence.
World Darts Championship: Mike De Decker v Luke Woodhouse
16:23 , Luke BakerHere comes the pressure from Woodhouse - bangs in a 140 to open the fourth leg, on De Decker’s throw, and follows wih a 96. The Belgian is scratching around a bit, so the Englishman powers in a 133 to reach a finish first.
De Decker leaves a bogey number at 166, so Woodhouse has six darts from 132. Good third dart leaves him 32 - three darts at it for the break... Misses double 16, misses double 8. One more dart. And Woodhouse does it! He breaks Mike De Decker and is one leg away from victory. A leg in which he’ll have the throw.
World Darts Championship: Mike De Decker v Luke Woodhouse
16:21 , Luke BakerWoodhouse bangs in a 180 in the opening leg but De Decker is scoring consistently now and takes it anyway as he makes a bit of a mess of 40 as he drifts into single one but bails himself out with double 16.
Woodhouse still has his scoring boots on as he smacks in another 180 to take control of the following leg before finding double 4 to tie this crucial fourth set up at 1-1.
World Darts Championship: Mike De Decker v Luke Woodhouse
16:17 , Luke BakerThis is better from De Decker, showing his class in this third set. Playing angry, it seems like. He smashes through the set and wins it 3-0. Breaks Woodhouse in the first leg, holds serve and then delivers an 11-darter to wrap it up with minimal fuss.
He averaged 107 in that set and has kept himself in the match. He also has the darts in the fourth set, so only needs to hold his throw to force a decider. This one could be going all the way!
DE DECKER FLIPPED A SWITCH!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 17, 2024
Mike De Decker is looking to turn this game around, as he wins three legs in a row to close the deficit back to one set.
📺 https://t.co/pIQvhqYxEj #WCDarts | R2 pic.twitter.com/S4XbdTZyZv
World Darts Championship: Mike De Decker v Luke Woodhouse
16:09 , Luke BakerThis is a code red for Mike de Decker. The much-fancied World Grand Prix winner is on the brink of a surprise early exit at Alexandra Palace as he slips 2-0 down in sets. Luke Woodhouse is just one set away now.
Woodhouse takes out 105 to hold throw early in the set then breaks De Decker to move 2-1 ahead. Onyl needs to hold throw to take the second set and bangs in a 140 to get to a finish first. He needs 60 and with his final dart hits the double 10 required. A big fist pump and Woodhouse is 2-0 up in sets and on the brink of a big upset.
World Darts Championship: Mike De Decker v Luke Woodhouse
15:56 , Luke BakerFantastic start by the non-seeded player as Luke Woodhouse gives Mike de decker plenty to think about straight off the bat.
Woodhouse picks up wehre he left off in his win over Lourence Ilagan yesterday as he cruises through the first leg to hold before coming millimetres away from the big fish 170 checkout. His dart is just outside the bull ring but he tidies up in his next visit to break the throw of De Decker.
The favourite then misses darts at double 16 as he fails to break back and Woodhouse takes a 3-0 win in the opening set. There are plenty who fancy De Decker to go deep, or maybe even win this tournament but he’ll have to come from a set down here.
World Darts Championship: Mike De Decker v Luke Woodhouse
15:43 , Luke BakerOk, we’re ready for our final match of the afternoon. World Grand Prix winner Mike de Decker has been in great form recently and is ascending into the darts elite.
He’ll take on Luke Woodhouse, who impressed in beating Lourence Ilagan 3-0 in round one yesterday. It will be a test for De Decker but he’ll fancy getting past the second round at the Worlds for the first time.
World Darts Championship: Ryan Joyce beats Darius Labanauskas
15:29 , Luke BakerA good performance from Ryan Joyce in the end and he pinches a break of throw in the third leg to set up a 3-1 victory in legs and a 3-1 victory in sets.
‘Relentless’ was solid in beating Darius Labanauskas and he’ll have a crack at Danny Noppert on Saturday evening, the same session in which Luke Littler plays by the way.
World Darts Championship: Ryan Joyce v Darius Labanauskas
15:20 , Luke BakerA third straight set decided by just one break of throw. Joyce leads 2-1 when we get a bit of a messy leg as both men miss multiple darts at double.
But Joyce eventually takes out double 4 and claims the third set 3-1. He now leads 2-1 in sets and is just a set away from victory.
World Darts Championship: Ryan Joyce v Darius Labanauskas
15:00 , Luke BakerGood response from the greatest Lithuanian darts player of all time. Labanauskas wins three straight legs, sandwiching a break of throw between two straightforward holds to win the second set 3-0 and level the match up at one set each.
Labanauskas averaging 98 and giving the world No 33 something to think about.
LABANAUSKAS LEVELS!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 17, 2024
A strong response from the Lithuanian as he wins three legs on the spin to level this contest up!
📺 https://t.co/pIQvhqYxEj #WCDarts | R1 pic.twitter.com/cruAIJ9YeR
World Darts Championship: Ryan Joyce v Darius Labanauskas
14:51 , Luke BakerAn 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.
JOYCE RACES INTO AN EARLY LEAD!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 17, 2024
Ryan Joyce is relentless in the opening set, as he rushes into a 1-0 lead over Darius Labanauskas, averaging 107.36!
📺 https://t.co/pIQvhqYxEj #WCDarts | R1 pic.twitter.com/3cZ8l4OBdm
World Darts Championship: Ryan Joyce v Darius Labanauskas
14:33 , Luke BakerNext 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.
World Darts Championship: Noa-Lynn van Leuven loses to Kevin Doets
14:24 , Luke BakerRuthless 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
World Darts Championship: Noa-Lynn van Leuven v Kevin Doets
14:21 , Luke BakerErm... 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
World Darts Championship: Noa-Lynn van Leuven v Kevin Doets
14:19 , Luke BakerA 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
World Darts Championship: Noa-Lynn van Leuven v Kevin Doets
14:18 , Luke BakerDoets 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
World Darts Championship: Noa-Lynn van Leuven v Kevin Doets
14:16 , Luke BakerVan 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
World Darts Championship: Noa-Lynn van Leuven v Kevin Doets
14:14 , Luke BakerDoets 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
World Darts Championship: Noa-Lynn van Leuven v Kevin Doets
14:11 , Luke BakerKevin 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
World Darts Championship: Noa-Lynn van Leuven v Kevin Doets
14:09 , Luke BakerNoa-Lynn van Leuven has acquitted herself well on the Ally Pally stage so far
World Darts Championship: Noa-Lynn van Leuven v Kevin Doets
14:03 , Luke BakerNice comeback in the following leg from Van Leuven as she gets down to 120. But can’t take it out and Doets now has a look at 74 and no mistake! Hits the treble, cleans up double 16 with his first dart and Kevin Doets is level at one set all!
Doets 1-1 (Legs: 3-1) Van Leuven
World Darts Championship: Noa-Lynn van Leuven v Kevin Doets
14:01 , Luke BakerOoof! That’s brilliant checkout by Van Leuven. Doets looks set to break the throw and move 2-0 ahead but she digs deep to clean up 120 and level the set at 1-1.
Bashes in a 180 in the following leg and is first to a finish. Doets can’t take out the big fish 170 but Van Leuven misses an opportunity at 35. Only for Doets to waste three darts when he’s on 40! Double eight for Van Leuven but now she makes a mess of it. Five missed darts to break the throw.
This leg is a mess now. Van Leuven on 5, Doets on 2 and they’re both chucking darts around but can’t hit a double. They both miss double 1 on multiple occasions. They’ve both thrown 30 darts in this leg and still haven’t finished! Finally, with his 33rd dart of the legs, Doets hits double 1 to win the leg. Amateurs would’ve been embarrassed by that finishing but that’s the pressure of the Ally Pally stage!
Doets 0-1 (Legs: 2-1) Van Leuven
World Darts Championship: Noa-Lynn van Leuven v Kevin Doets
13:55 , Luke BakerDoets needs to settle down here. He’s got the throw in this second set, so just needs to hold throw. A very good opening leg for the Dutchman who quickly leaves himself 40 and after a couple of misses at double tops, takes out double 10 with minimal fuss.
Doets 0-1 (Legs: 1-0) Van Leuven
World Darts Championship: Noa-Lynn van Leuven v Kevin Doets
13:50 , Luke BakerGreat stuff by Van Leuven. Doets puts pressure on her throw but she takes out 120 in style! Had one dart at double tops and nailed it. She’s just a leg away from winning the opening set now.
Pressure on Doets to hold his throw but it’s a poor leg and Van Leuven suddenly only needs 72 to win the set. Has one dart at tops but it’s high. Doets can’t take out 80 though, so three more darts at double tops and Van Leuven takes it out to break Doets’ throw and win the opening set! Well, well, well - do we have a story developing here?
Doets 0-1 (Legs: 2-3) Van Leuven
World Darts Championship: Noa-Lynn van Leuven v Kevin Doets
13:46 , Luke BakerA couple of nice visits from Van Leuven and she edges ahead in the second leg. Leaves herself 80, hits the treble 20 and although she misses the first dart at double 10, she glides the second in there to break straight back - good stuff by the Dutchwoman.
Doets 0-0 (Legs: 1-1) Van Leuven
World Darts Championship: Noa-Lynn van Leuven v Kevin Doets
13:44 , Luke BakerThe winner of this one will face Michael Smith on Thursday night. If Doets triumphs, as you’d think he would, it will be a rematch of their second-round clash las year.
Van Leuven with the throw in the first leg and opens up with a one-treble visit of 100. But it’s Doets down to a finish first, leaving himself 127. He can’t take it out but knocks out double tops with the following throw for an impressive 13-darter and he has an early break of throw.
World Darts Championship: Noa-Lynn van Leuven v Kevin Doets
13:40 , Luke BakerVan Leuven walks out to Euphoria by Loreen - a Eurovision banger that song, by the way. She looks a bit nervous and greets a lot of fans along the walkway.
Can’t really hear any boos, or they’re outweighed by the cheers if there are any.
Kevin Doets also completes his walk-on and we’ll be underway shortly.
World Darts Championship: Noa-Lynn van Leuven gives her thoughts ahead of history-making clash
13:37 , Luke BakerNoa-Lynn van Leuven interviewed ahead of her clash with Kevin Doets. A smattering of boos from the crowd as she appears on the big screen...
Van Leuven was watching the darts in the arena yesterdya to get used to the venue and is relishing stepping out on that stage.
“I'm really excited, a bit nervous, I love being here,” she said. “It's great. It looks a bit bigger, then I walked in, I love this crowd, the venue, the stage, I just want to go out there and play.”
World Darts Championship: Noa-Lynn van Leuven v Kevin Doets
13:33 , Luke BakerNext up is Noa-Lynn van Leuven, the first transgender player in World Darts Championship history, taking on fellow Dutch thrower Kevin Doets.
Van Leuven qualified thanks to her performance on the Women’s Series but the world No 144 will have to put in the performance of her life to beat world No 51 Doets, who came agonisingly close to beating then-reigning champion Michael Smith in the second round 12 months ago. Bully Boy eventually edged to a 3-2 win after a huge scare.
World Darts Championship: James Hurrell beats Jim Long 3-0
13:30 , Luke BakerAnd it’s over! James Hurrell takes out double 10 to win the third set 3-0 (after missing seven match darts) and beat Jim Long 3-0 in sets. That was a demolition job by Hurrell on his Ally Pally debut, only allowing Long to win a solitary leg, and his reward is a second-round clash with Michael van Gerwen - well deserved.
If ‘the Hillbilly’ he plays like this, MVG will have to be in decent form to beat him on Friday night.
World Darts Championship: James Hurrell v Jim Long
13:27 , Luke BakerJim Long has three darts at double tops to level the set at a leg apiece but misses all three and Hurrell takes out double 18. There’s a little fist pump from the Englishman.
He’s now just one leg away from winning this match and he has the throw. He’s average above 92 in every set so far by the way - it’s been a very solid performance.
Junior sous chef Noa-Lynn van Leuven hoping to cook up a storm at Ally Pally
13:25 , Luke BakerNoa-Lynn van Leuven does not want her status as the first transgender player to compete at the World Darts Championship to define her.
The 28-year-old Dutchwoman, who transitioned in 2021, will create history today when she plays Kevin Doets in the first round.
Van Leuven has earned her place on the Alexandra Palace stage because of her performances on the Women’s Series. And she wants her darts to do the talking.
Junior sous chef Noa-Lynn van Leuven hoping to cook up a storm at Ally Pally
World Darts Championship: James Hurrell v Jim Long
13:16 , Luke BakerThe impressive Hurrell races into a 2-0 lead in the second set before Long joins the party with a 180 in the third leg and he almost takes out an 11-darter. It gets a bit hairy towards the end as he goes all the way to double one but nails it and has a leg on the board at last.
But Hurrell takes out 65 in style and is now 2-0 up in sets. He’s just one set away from booking a place in the second round on debut.
World Darts Championship
13:06 , Luke BakerThe fans are out in force at Alexandra Palace as ever. It will interesting to see what sort of reception Noa-Lynn van Leuven gets later - hopefully all positive.
World Darts Championship: James Hurrell v Jim Long
13:02 , Luke BakerA clean takeout of 60 by Hurrell and he gets the break of throw. Now throwing for the opening set in double-quick time - a great start by the Englishman on his Ally Pally debut.
Leg three sees a 174 from Hurrell to set up a shot at a 129 checkout but the second dart slips just below the treble 20 bed. Good effort. Long needs 54 to break back but misses two darts at double 10.
Hurrell takes out double top and he cruises to victory in the opening set 3-0. A super start from the excellently-named ‘Hillbilly’, who is playing better than his ranking of 89.
World Darts Championship: James Hurrell v Jim Long
12:55 , Luke BakerGood start from James Hurrell. A 15-dart opening leg including a 120 checkout. Good nerve settler.
He then bangs in a 180 to begin the next leg! Canadian Jim Long already on the back foot
World Darts Championship: James Hurrell v Jim Long
12:52 , Luke BakerBefore Noa-Lynn van Leuven takes to the stage, we’ve got James Hurrell v Jim Long first up. The winner will face Michael van Gerwen in round two - not a bad carrot!
We’ll keep you updated with how that clash is going as we continue build-up to Van Leuven.
Who is Noa-Lynn van Leuven? Transgender darts player set for World Championship debut
12:48 , Luke BakerWhen Noa-Lynn van Leuven walks onto the stage at Alexandra Palace, the 28-year-old will make history as the first transgender darts player to compete at the PDC World Championship.
Van Leuven’s debut at the tournament will also represent a personal journey of self-acceptance and perseverance in which the sport of darts has, for her, played a significant role. Van Leuven just wants to play, though her appearance at the World Championship will also come alongside wider attention and outside noise.
The Dutchwoman accepts that; it is a reality she has had to get used to since first competing as a transgender player on the Women’s Series in 2022. But, while the spotlight is on her, Van Leuven wants her story to be represented correctly. There can be consequences when this does not happen.
An element of Van Leuven’s career, which has been heavily reported ahead of the World Championship, is the hostility she has sometimes faced when competing against other women. Or, rather, when she started beating other women at tournaments.
Who is Noa-Lynn van Leuven? Transgender darts player set for World Championship debut
World Darts Championship schedule
12:43 , Luke BakerAll eyes will be on transgender star Noa-Lynn van Leuven as she faces Kevin Doets this afternoon but here’s the full schedule of action. Should be a cracker.
Afternoon Session (12.30pm)
James Hurrell v Jim Long (R1)
Kevin Doets v Noa-Lynn van Leuven (R1)
Ryan Joyce v Darius Labanauskas (R1)
Mike De Decker v Luke Woodhouse (R2)
World Darts Championship
12:42 , Luke BakerWelcome to The Indpendent’s coverage of the World Darts Championship at Ally Pally witha fascinating afternoon of action lined up.
