"I’m a light sleeper, so I wake up every time" - Sleepless nights due to newborn child affect Van Duijvenbode's World Championship preparations

Dirk van Duijvenbode returns to Alexandra Palace for this month’s World Darts Championship with a sense of unfinished business. Twelve months ago, the Dutchman endured a bitterly disappointing campaign, crashing out in the second round to Latvia’s Madars Razma. It later emerged that ‘Aubergenius’ had been battling viral symptoms throughout the tournament.

Reflecting on that early exit a year on, Van Duijvenbode says he has finally made peace with the setback. “I’m more at ease with it now. I still regret it, of course, but I was ill throughout January as well. There was never going to be a good World Championship for me in that condition,” he told Sportnieuws.nl.

Van Duijvenbode was sidelined for two full months by the virus he contracted shortly before the Worlds. The source, he believes, was a series of public events in the lead-up. “I’d done a few exhibitions with big crowds. There were other players there too, and one of them was sick. He’d done ten events before that and passed it on. So I’ve decided I won’t be doing so many exhibitions anymore. I’ve only got one booked now. It’s always a risk, but I do want that stage practice beforehand.”

In the opening round of this year’s tournament, Van Duijvenbode could face his southern neighbour, Belgium’s Andy Baetens—a daunting first hurdle. Determined to arrive in peak condition, the Dutchman is doing everything he can to prepare, though life at home is adding its own challenges. His second child, born earlier this year, continues to struggle with sleep.

“I don’t get up at night, but I’m a light sleeper, so I wake up every time. Even once a night is already a lot. I want to be as rested as possible heading into the World Championship, so… yeah,” he said with a wry smile.