Exclusive Jeffrey de Zwaan interview: 'My sponsor saved me from bankruptcy'

While his biggest success has come in the subdued environment of the Robin Park Tennis Centre, De Zwaan hit the headlines in a big way during a run to the fourth round of the UK Open - though that too lacked atmosphere. The 22-year old shocked Michael van Gerwen in the third round at Butlin's. ''I never thought at the beginning of the year that this was possible'', says De Zwaan in an interview with . ''After two bad years I got my Tour Card back in January. Then, to start so well, is amazing. If you have not performed to your limit for two years, mainly because of injuries, there is nothing more beautiful than to come back this way. ''

From 2015 to 2017, de Zwaan belonged to the training team of Dutch legend Raymond van Barneveld and sponsor Bengi. After losing his Tour card, the mentorship with Barney was put to an end.
''Raymond and I have practiced apart since January," admitted The Black Cobra.
"We were not able to put enough effort and time into it, because Raymond has his own career of course. We obviously still have friendly contact, but on a business level we no longer speak to each other.''
Sponsor Bengi took care of the Dutchman after van Barneveld faded from view. The company signed him up to a ten-year deal, and is even providing a personal coach. It's new experience for de Zwaan, and a luxury he couldn't afford in the three years previous. The Dutch talent thinks this change of circumstance is basis of his current success.
''That made the difference'', he said. ''In my first year, when I qualified for the World Championship, I had a personal coach too. I think I need someone around me to perform well.''
''Ben de Kok (the owner of Bengi) has always believed in me. He told me he wanted to go further with me. He has appointed a coach for me and since then everything has fallen into place. I practice every day with Iwe Kuitert (his coach), and Ben also spends a lot of time with me to get everything straight.''
''My coach helps me on days when I have to play darts. He makes sure I don't have to worry about things. That may be all the little things, such as where and when I have to play.''

The renewed deal with Bengi has undoubtedly saved De Zwaan's career. The Black Cobra openly admits that he flirted with bankruptcy without financial support from his sponsor. ''I used to spend a lot of money. In my first year I performed well, after that it was less. If you then spend what you have earned in your first year, you will run into problems. I would be personally bankrupt if Bengi had not supported me.'' There was a time when the money did run out, and it almost brought a burgeoning career to a premature end. "When it happened, I was forced to stop darts. I could not pay anything myself anymore and all the bills piled up. Ben has made a brilliant move by giving me a job at his company. I receive a fixed salary, which means that I can pay my bills and play darts more relaxed. At the moment I live from my salary.'' "I set aside everything I earn with darts. I do not have to win matches now to pay the bills. That helped me a lot. ''

After winning his first Pro Tour title, De Zwaan wants to take the next step. He does not think the top 32 of the PDC Order of Merit is a realistic aim this season, but The Black Cobra is trying to reduce the difference between him and the world's top talents.
''Consistency is the difference between me and the big guys," he said.
"Players like me feel the pressure that we do not belong to the established order. If you are at the top, you play all television tournaments and you get guaranteed prize money. We do not have that, so I have to try to get a place in that established order.''
"Then I know what I have. You do not have to worry anymore, because you have already been qualified for the tournaments. ''
De Zwaan, in contrast to Michael van Gerwen, Michael Smith, Peter Wright and co, has to play qualifying tournaments to qualify for the Euro Tour events. In order to acquire a seeding, he must reach the top 16 of the Pro Tour Order of Merit.
"The downside of the Euro Tour qualifying tournaments is that you have nothing in advance. You have to perform and get through the qualifiers to earn prize money. That adds a lot of pressure, since you have to go through the qualifying tournaments to end up in the top 16. ''

Due to his excellent performances this season, de Zwaan is in line to qualify for the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, Players Championship Finals and the World Championship. Despite his good prospects, de Zwaan does not intend to set specific targets for this year.
"I'm not going to run ahead of things. Of course I do have my targets, but I will take each days as it comes. I do not know if I'm good enough to win majors. But if you can win Pro Tour tournaments, you will also be able to win TV tournaments.''

For several years the brand new PDC ranking winner has been seen as one of the stars of the future. A victory on the Pro Tour is a step in the right direction. But de Zwaan has not yet fully realised his talent. "I think I still have not reached my potential," he mused. "My expectation is that I can do much better than I have shown now. But perhaps the time is not right for that, I hope this will soon be the case.'' Darts manufacturer Unicorn also sees a bright future for the former World Youth Master. The main PDC sponsor recently signed a three-year agreement with The Black Cobra. ''We have been following his progress fo a while now, but it was around two months ago our interest in Jeffrey became real. Things then happened very quickly as I was incredibly keen for him to join the team. Of course, we're very pleased with the outcome'', said Unicorn spokesman Matt Rankin. ''Personally I believe we have signed a very talented player in Jeffrey. But as with all our young up and coming Team Unicorn players, we are here to help them develop their equipment in order for them to be content the moment their toe touches that oche, to make them champions. Jeffrey has all the attributes to be just that.'' The 22-year-old from Leidschendam is also happy to be aligned with the board supplier for PDC tournaments. "I am very proud of this. If you look at the players that have been under contract with Unicorn, it is a great honour that I can add my name to that'', De Zwaan concludes.