(INTERVIEW) Noa-Lynn van Leuven becomes first trans woman in PDC TV tournament: ''Difficult to play in top sports when you are in such a position"

At the last minute, Noa-Lynn van Leuven became the second Dutch player to qualify for the Women's World Matchplay, the PDC's biggest women's tournament. For the first time there are two Dutch ladies competing in that tournament, but that is not the only milestone that was achieved.

In fact, Van Leuven is the first trans woman to qualify for a television tournament in the PDC. She talks about that in an extensive interview with Dartsnieuws.com.

First, we looked back at the last tournament weekend, as she had to pass Lorraine Winstanley to move into the top eight of the rankings. Winstanley was 50 pounds ahead of Van Leuven prior to the tournament weekend. Winning or losing one match could make the difference in that regard, and the 27-year-old player felt that pressure.

''The last few weeks you do look towards a tournament in a different way, because you know it's coming,'' Van Leuven says. ''You know you are very close to a big tournament with the ladies. So I did have some nerves.''

The gap with Winstanley then only increased over the tournament weekend. After three of the four tournaments, the English woman had a lead of 400 pounds. So it had to happen during the final tournament.

''I did indeed leave it a little bit, especially that first day of course. Lost a match I normally wouldn't lose very easily. Lorraine only ran further and further out after that. But I hadn't given up hope and had it in my head that I only needed one good run. And it showed.''

Because Winstanley lost in the first round at the last tournament, Van Leuven needed only a semifinal place to pass her rival. In the end, she even made it to the final.

''During the last tournament, I just looked at it match by match. It was my last resort. That I am placed now is really great. It is one of the biggest tournaments of the moment for women and to be in the top eight is really super. I had to fight hard for it and this is a nice cherry on the cake.''

Van Leuven has only been playing at the PDC Women's Series since 2022. Because she has been transitioning, she researched regulations before participating in the tournaments.

''Of course I first looked around to see what the regulations were. At first I could not find anything at the PDC, but at the WDF I could. Then Vincent van der Voort made extra inquiries with the tournament director of the PDC whether I could participate in the Women's Series. Then it was actually no problem at all.''

In the meantime, the PDC, together with the DRA disciplinary committee, has still established rules for transgender people. ''I'm glad those are there now, though. I had to arrange a number of things, such as a letter stating, for example, that my testosterone is below a specific level,'' Van Leuven explained.

Most players on the women's circuit don't mind Van Leuven's participation. ''Those reactions are mixed. Sometimes it's a little awkward, but I respect it if people might have something against it,'' she continued.

''On the other hand, there are now regulations drawn up by the DRA (disciplinary committee at PDC) and the WDF and they say I'm allowed to play in the ladies. I get a lot of reactions from people who all don't mind me competing, but there are a few who disagree.''

But what about the top players like Beau Greaves and Fallon Sherrock? ''No, they handle it a little better,'' responded Van Leuven.

'I notice the others don't really make an issue of it. But because I can throw a reasonable dart straight, it's different.''

The Women's World Matchplay will be Van Leuven's first major tournament. Automatically, more spotlights will then fall on her, such as attention from television channels Sky Sports and other media publications. She is not afraid of the reactions, via social media, for example, that may result.

''I'm already getting a lot of reactions, of course. Both a lot of positive reactions and some less positive ones. I have chosen to play these kind of tournaments myself. I think that interest and being in the spotlight is part of it.''

Van Leuven was then asked if she aspires to take on some sort of ambassadorial role for trans women, or does she prefer to stay out of the spotlight.

''I've been trying to do the latter, but I think it's automatically moving a little more toward that former as well. It's not so much that I want to take that kind of role, but it's maybe nice now that I can be that one.''

''It is difficult to engage in top sports when you are in such a position. You may not know where to start. Then when you see on television that it's all just possible, how nice it is when you can still pick up your hobby or sport.''

The women's circuit is currently dominated by Beau Greaves. Of the last 20 tournaments on the PDC Women's Series, no fewer than 15 have been won by the 19-year-old Englishwoman.

''She is really bizarre,'' Van Leuven said respectfully of the reigning women's world champion. ''I've played a number of matches against her now, but there's just no stopping her. Every time you think 'now she's slaughtered me well once,' she just manages to step it up again that match after.'

But what makes Greaves so good? ''She can just really throw fantastic. If you look at a lot of women, they do have crazy throws, darts that fly really crazy. But Beau really doesn't have that. She has a very stable throw and is just there to throw a nice game. Sometimes it seems like she's just throwing in and you can't argue with that.''

''I really like playing against her. Of course, you don't always get the game she can play. It's really someone you can pick up on. Somehow I manage to throw against her pretty well, too.''

For example, in the PDC Women's Series 12 final, Van Leuven threw an average of 82, but Greaves countered with an average of 104 and won the final 5-0.

''With an average of 82, you win a lot of matches, or at least you get a lot of chances at a leg. But I didn't even have an arrow on a double.''

For some time now, Van Leuven has been sponsored by Dartshop Zaanstad, the store of top dart player Vincent van der Voort. Van Leuven loves the fact that such a big name in darts supports her in this way.

''When I started playing darts again, Dartshop Zaanstad was the only dart store in our neighborhood where you could try things. Then I went there a few times, threw darts and got some stuff. At one point we got to talking and they told me they really wanted to sponsor me. Also because I could throw nice darts, did well with the ladies and came from the neighborhood. That is of course very nice, especially from a store with such names in it. That also does something to you.

Still the Denmark Open champion can regularly be found in the store to train for a while. ''Also to train with Youri Brouwer (who works in the store). It's nice to play some fun games now and then, especially since those guys all throw at a reasonable level as well.''

Whether she will tease Van der Voort that only one of them will be at the World Matchplay this year? After all, Van der Voort did not manage to qualify for the regular edition of the tournament in Blackpool.

''Haha no, I'm not like that. Especially for someone like Vincent I have a lot of respect. He has been around for quite a few years and has meant quite a bit to Dutch darts,'' Van Leuven concluded.