“It has cost darts players their careers” – Diabetes may jeopardise Wesley Plaisier’s Tour Card ambitions

Wesley Plaisier has now held a Tour Card for a year and a half. While he spent his whole life working toward this goal, the Dutchman has also come to realise the pressure that comes with it. On top of that, a recent diabetes diagnosis is making it harder to keep hold of it.

"I always wanted to get a tour card and I still enjoy it, mind you, but it is a shame that you are no longer allowed to play everything," Plaisier said on the latest episode of the podcast Darts Draait Door, where he was a guest.

According to the PDC, Tour Card holders may not compete in tournaments not organised by the governing body itself. That includes WDF events and the Modus Super Series, tournaments the 36-year-old previously played. As a darts enthusiast, he says he misses those matches.

"Now I have to make do with local tournaments, the Dutch league, and the Super League. It is and remains great fun, but not when you lose. I used to throw a lot and win a lot too. Now I lose relatively often, and that can cause confidence to wane. For example, I didn't win a single match between April and May this year. That gets annoying, because you just want to win."

Plaisier has had his Tour Card for a year and a half now, but if he is not in the top 64 of the PDC Order of Merit at the end of 2026, he will have to go back to Q-School. Despite the fact he would again have to miss the tournaments he used to enjoy, he would unhesitatingly go for his Tour Card again. "I have always wanted it, I have achieved it now, and I hope to be able to hold onto it longer."

Because he can only play PDC tournaments, Plaisier has also found more balance. "I used to be the type who wanted to play darts seven days a week, but now I find five days more than enough. I'm getting a bit older, you know," he laughed. "Switching back wasn't difficult, because you know that with a tour card you are only allowed to play for the PDC."

It remains to be seen, however, whether he will still have his Tour Card at the end of the year. The Dutchman is not in the best spell of his career and looks set to lose his spot by year’s end. Plaisier is currently ranked 70th in the world and needs to rack up some prize money in the final half-year to reach the top 64.

To make matters worse, he recently learned he has diabetes, something that certainly doesn’t make his aim of retaining his Tour Card any easier. Before the diagnosis he already felt low on energy on long days, which now explains what caused it and why he may be in poorer form.

"Although I also missed some Euro Tours because I lost in the finals of the qualifiers. That is frustrating too. I don't feel the pressure of losing my tour card yet, but that will probably come towards the end of the year."

Because he had to overhaul his life due to diabetes, Plaisier also shed some weight. That was perhaps also a reason why I haven't been as fit lately," Plaisier commented. Vincent van der Voort then chimed in that diabetes should certainly not be underestimated. "It cost darts players like Colin Lloyd their careers. There are players who really suffer a lot from it." said the former pro.

Another Dutch star who has long dealt with diabetes is none other than Raymond van Barneveld. The five-time world champion regularly struggles with it during play, and Plaisier sought him out for advice after his diagnosis. "I talked to him about it, especially in the beginning," he said.

"He gave me a few tips on what I can eat and what I'd better avoid. Cutting out sugars, for example. No more regular cola. I have to make healthy choices and adjust my life. That took some getting used to."

After a few months of searching, Plaisier now seems to have found a good balance. "I've adjusted my diet and I try to walk twice a week. My blood sugar has dropped completely again by now." According to Van der Voort, however, it is difficult as a darts player to think about your body. "In all those halls, it smells nothing but deep-fried food. Cardiovascular diseases are everywhere. That's not normal. It's unbearable."

Plaisier is clear that he doesn’t want to go back to how he felt before he had to change his life. "I didn't really have much trouble with it, of course it took some getting used to, but I do understand now why I sometimes had less energy on such a day. That is an explanation. Now I have been given medication and things are going well."