"I can beat anyone there" - Noa-Lynn Van Leuven a serious contender for Women's World Matchplay glory

The Sunday afternoon, the third ever edition of the Women's World Matchplay takes place at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool. Making her second appearance there, Noa-Lynn Van Leuven is viewed by many as a dark horse to potentially lift the title.

Already this year, the Dutch darter has tasted success on the Women's Series and the Challenge Tour. "Yeah, it has been a heck of a year so far!" she reflects with a smile in conversation with Tungsten Tales. "I think there's been a big improvement in my game. I don't know where it came from, but winning a Challenge Tour gave me so much confidence. I played some really good games."

Thanks to her successes on the Challenge Tour, van Leuven has been able to make her debut on the Pro Tour as one of the reserve players this year too. "When I went there I was like 'I might not win a game, I might not win a leg," she recalls of the experience. "I had to play Gary Anderson and I did not win a leg. I think I had three or four chances at a double but I didn't take the chances. But, I gained some experience."

Being a transwoman, Van Leuven has been at the centre of a lot of controversy of late, with fellow players such as Deta Hedman and Aileen De Graaf making moves against van Leuven. On the PDC Pro Tour however, Van Leuven has felt more welcomed. "I think some of the women are scared of me and they're looking for a way out," Van Leuven says. 

At the Winter Gardens however, Van Leuven will get the chance to test herself against the best of the best of women's darts. "My game is much, much better than it was a year ago," she analyses, recalling a disappointing Blackpool debut twelve months ago. "I'm so much more confident about my game and I'm not scared to go out onto that stage and I can't wait to get back there."

Van Leuven is also very confident in her own chances of victory. "I can beat anyone there in that tournament," she concludes with optimism. "There's a bit more pressure on me now, compared to last year and I don't know how the crowd is going to be, but one thing I do know, is that I'm going to bring my A-game!"