Noa-Lynn van Leuven has set her sights on returning to the World Darts Championship again after being beaten in her historic debut at Alexandra Palace.
Van Leuven – the first transgender player to play at the Worlds – fired an 87.06 average and six maximums against Kevin Doets, with the Dutchwoman raising hopes of a famous victory when she claimed the opening set.
Doets levelled the contest by winning a 33-dart leg in the second set before closing out a 3-1 victory, setting up a second-round reunion with former world champion Michael Smith – the player who knocked him out at the same stage of last year’s contest.
Van Leuven was booed by spectators at the Grand Slam of Darts last month but received a warm reception in London ahead of the all-Dutch clash, with the 28-year-old pleased with her performance but conceding Doets deserved the victory.
“I guess they just want to see good darts,” Van Leuven said about the crowds. “Both Kevin and I showed some good darts. I was playing well all game.
Van Leuven was left to rue missing opportunities to break Doets in the second set
“I guess the difference is a bit of inexperience. He’s got so much more experience than I do. That’s what made the difference this game. There was only one point difference in the averages.
“He was the better player today. Hopefully I’ll reach the Pro Tour next year and I’ll play him again and I’ll be the better player. I want to become a better player and the only way to do so is going out on that stage, playing Challenge Tour, playing Pro Tour and just play the best players there are.”
How Doets held on to beat Van Leuven
Van Leuven responded to losing the opening leg by firing an 80 checkout in the next and nailing a Shanghai finish to break Doets’ throw, before taking out tops at the fourth attempt to wrap up the set with an 18-darter.
Doets claimed the early advantage in the second set but could only watch on as Van Leuven nailed another 120 finish in the next leg, while the turning point of the match came in the third leg when both players squandered numerous chances at double.
Van Leuven fired two 120 finishes during her Alexandra Palace debut
Van Leuven busted twice and missed multiple darts to break Doets, who held throw on double one – after several failed visits – for a 33-darter and then took out a 74 finish in the next to secure the second set.
Doets claimed back-to-back legs and replied to a 14-dart hold from Van Leuven to take out tops in the next to win the set, with the Dutchman taking out a 76 finish in the fourth to move 2-1 and within a leg of victory.
Van Leuven fired six perfect darts on her way to a 12-dart hold to take the set to a final-leg decider, where Doets held his nerve to secure a hard-fought victory and reach the second round for the second year in a row.
“It was tough, very tough – especially at the beginning,” Doets told Sky Sports. “She played better than I did at the beginning and it was really hard.”
On the chaotic leg in the second set, Doets added: “In every World Championships, there is a leg like that. Every single leg I was just fighting, fighting, fighting.
“The crowd were amazing – they didn’t boo anyone. They didn’t boo me, they were great.
“I knew I had to beat Noa first, but it feels like the Gods wanted to give me another chance [against Michael Smith]. It’s a really good feeling and hopefully I beat him on Thursday.”
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