“I’d rather be at Ally Pally – that’s my dream”: Lakeside champion Jimmy van Schie gives up WDF title defence after winning PDC Tour Card

For Jimmy van Schie, the choice is clear. Even as the reigning WDF world champion, he is walking away from a chance to defend his title at Lakeside because a bigger dream is finally within reach. After securing his first ever PDC Tour Card at Q-School, the Dutchman is focused on one thing: earning his place on the sport’s biggest stage at Alexandra Palace.

“I’d rather be at Ally Pally – that’s my dream,” Van Schie said in conversation with Sportnieuws, explaining why he has no regrets about leaving the WDF behind at the very top.

That decision closes a hugely successful chapter. In 2025, Van Schie became the dominant force on the WDF circuit, winning both the World Masters and the Lakeside World Championship and finishing as world number one. Yet despite those achievements, the pathway he always wanted ran through the PDC.

Breaking through there had proved painful. He narrowly missed out on a Tour Card in previous attempts and also fell short at the final hurdle of qualifying for the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship at Ally Pally. This time, at Q-School 2026, everything finally clicked. By piling up points across the week, he secured his Tour Card via the ranking before the final day was even finished. “I’ve deserved it,” Van Schie said after sealing that breakthrough.

The relief was immediate, and emotional. Reflecting on the setbacks that came before, Van Schie admitted how heavy the pressure had become.

“All those horrible moments and feelings have disappeared in one go now,” he said. “From the moment I won the World Masters in November, a massive weight fell off my shoulders. I showed emotion then too, something I normally never do. I thought: ‘See, I really can play darts.’”

That WDF success proved to be the turning point mentally. It gave him the belief to handle Q-School differently from previous years. “I used to be so angry when I lost, but then I started thinking. There are 63 other losers at a big tournament like that as well. That helped me. Winning this Tour Card gives me so much confidence.”

That confidence now carries him into life as a full-time PDC professional for the first time. From 2026, he will be able to enter all Players Championship events and major qualifiers without needing invites or last-minute routes in.

Van Schie’s commitment to the sport is not new. He revealed that he has already structured his life around giving darts everything. “I haven’t worked for years,” he said. “I agreed with my girlfriend that I could go all in on darts and that she would work. I’m very happy with that freedom.”

With his calendar now filling rapidly with PDC events, he still plans to keep playing in league darts, Super League and smaller weekly competitions. “That helps me enormously, I love darts so much.”

The timing of his breakthrough also suits him financially. The PDC has increased prize money across all tournaments from 2026, something Van Schie is fully aware of. “That’s obviously fantastic, and great timing that I can now also start earning good money.”

Short term, his goals are realistic rather than flashy. He knows the step up will be tough. “I want to qualify for a Euro Tour for the first time and win as many rounds as possible at floor tournaments. I’m not putting too much pressure on myself, I have two years to perform.”

But the long term dream is already clear. “Reaching the World Championship at Ally Pally this year? That’s realistic. In recent years I’ve already shown a few times that I was very close.”

That ambition is exactly why he is willing to give up defending his WDF world title. He leaves that organisation as reigning champion and world number one, but with no hesitation about moving on.

“You can’t finish better than that, I’ve kind of completed the WDF,” Van Schie said. “Of course it’s a shame that I can’t defend my world title at Lakeside, but I’d rather be at Ally Pally – that’s my dream.”

For Van Schie, the Lakeside story is finished at its peak. The next chapter is about proving he belongs among the elite, and turning a long-held dream into reality under the bright lights of Alexandra Palace.