“I want to show my children that I’m a champion, but maybe this is about perseverance” - Jules van Dongen opens up about struggles
PDCSaturday, 14 June 2025 at 15:23
Dutch-born darts player Jules van Dongen, who represents the United States, has been going through a prolonged slump in both form and confidence. A combination of technical setbacks and mental obstacles has left the 34-year-old far from the level he once reached—yet he remains hopeful of finding his way back.
At the 2025 World Cup of Darts, van Dongen and his American teammate Danny Lauby suffered an opening loss to Hong Kong. Although they managed to defeat Bahrain in their second group match, it wasn’t enough to reach the knockout stage.
Former Dutch international Vincent van der Voort offered a blunt assessment on Darts draait door:
“He’d be wise to stop playing for a while—just no darts at all for now.”
"Never give up, never give up hope."
Following the tournament, van Dongen addressed his struggles in a heartfelt post on social media after averaging well below his usual standard in the loss to Hong Kong.
“I want to show my children that I’m a champion,” he wrote. “But the more I struggle, the more I realise I’m teaching them something else: perseverance. Never give up, never give up hope. I struggle to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but it’s there—and I’m going to reach it.”
Van Dongen has been coping with a physical issue in his throwing hand since early 2023. In an interview with De Limburger, he described the problem as debilitating:
“It feels like I have spaghetti in my hand. I can’t get a proper grip on the dart. My hand just does strange things—and I can’t control it.”
A lonely path between continents
Having lived in the United States since 2011, van Dongen also opened up about the emotional toll of his transatlantic career.
“I constantly fly between America and Europe, but it leads nowhere. The jet lag and being alone all the time are breaking me down.”
Jules van Dongen in action
A World Cup low point
Representing the United States—his country of residence, but not of birth—at the World Cup came with added emotional weight.
“I stood there with a stone in my stomach,” he admitted.
Van der Voort, who has closely followed van Dongen’s development, sympathises with his situation:
“It’s sad to see. When you’ve hit a wall like this, it might be better to take a break. He trains constantly, but nothing improves. He doesn’t even know how to hold the darts anymore—it's all insecurity. Right now, the most he can manage is a leg or two. At some point, you have to say: maybe it's time to step away for a bit.”
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