World Darts Championship LIVE: Scores and updates as Noa-Lynn van Leuven to make historical past as first transgender participant at Ally Pally

Luke Humphries makes World Darts Championship prediction

Noa-Lynn van Leuven will make historical past on the World Darts Championship this afternoon as she turns into the primary transgender participant to play on the Alexandra Palace stage.

The Dutchwoman faces Kevin Doets – who pushed then-reigning world champion Michael Smith all the best way within the second spherical final yr earlier than slipping to defeat – within the second match of the afternoon session.

In her personal phrases, the 28-year-old Van Leuven transitioned “about 9, 10 years in the past” and was granted permission to compete in girls’s darts in 2021. Together with Fallon Sherrock, she claimed one in every of two qualifying locations on the Girls’s Collection though has endured hostility from some opponents, with Van Leuven saying she has confronted “a number of conservative, poisonous b******s” on the ladies’s tour.

The afternoon session additionally sees the likes of Ryan Joyce and Darius Labanauskas in first-round motion, whereas the second-round contest is the in-form Mike de Decker squaring off towards Luke Woodhouse, who crusied by means of towards Lourence Ilagan in spherical one.

Observe all of the motion with our dwell weblog beneath:

Who’s Noa-Lynn van Leuven? Transgender darts participant set for World Championship debut

Van Leuven’s debut on the event will additionally symbolize a private journey of self-acceptance and perseverance through which the game of darts has, for her, performed a major position. Van Leuven simply needs to play, although her look on the World Championship will even come alongside wider consideration and out of doors noise.

The Dutchwoman accepts that; it’s a actuality she has needed to get used to since first competing as a transgender participant on the Girls’s Collection in 2022. However, whereas the highlight is on her, Van Leuven needs her story to be represented appropriately. There might be penalties when this doesn’t occur.

A component of Van Leuven’s profession, which has been closely reported forward of the World Championship, is the hostility she has generally confronted when competing towards different girls. Or, moderately, when she began beating different girls at tournaments.

Luke Baker17 December 2024 12:48

World Darts Championship schedule

All eyes might be on transgender star Noa-Lynn van Leuven as she faces Kevin Doets this afternoon however right here’s the total schedule of motion. Ought to be a cracker.

Afternoon Session (12.30pm)

James Hurrell v Jim Lengthy (R1)

Kevin Doets v Noa-Lynn van Leuven (R1)

Ryan Joyce v Darius Labanauskas (R1)

Mike De Decker v Luke Woodhouse (R2)

Luke Baker17 December 2024 12:43