(INTERVIEW) Van Dongen’s remarkable darting rise to Q-School success: “Only two years ago, I started practicing seriously”

Jules van Dongen claimed a PDC Tour Card for the first time earlier this year. For the Dutch American, it all went pretty fast.

Van Dongen tells dartsnews.com his remarkable story. "Only two years ago, at the start of the pandemic, I started practicing seriously. Then last year I played my first major tournament at the World Darts Federation. That went really well from the start, I even managed to qualify for the World Championships (at Lakeside)."

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Tour Card

"I signed up for Q-School to see how far I had come," continues The Dutch Dragon. "A bit to my surprise I was as good as sure of a Tour Card after just two days and I could relax the rest of the way. When I got my Tour Card, I had to make some important choices. In the end, I chose to quit my job and go full steam ahead with my darts career."

The Dutchman has been living in the United States for a while now and also competes for that country. "Usually I travel up and down, as I still have a family at home, but when there are a few tournaments in quick succession I stay in the UK for a few weeks."

Van Dongen has already played a few tournaments on the Pro Tour. "I'm still trying to find my best level, but hopefully I can look up and earn some money. On the Pro Tour I have a lot of support from Dutchmen Danny Jansen and Luc Peters and of course I also hang out with Danny Baggish, who I normally play for in the World Cup of Darts for the United States."