Kleermaker finally set for World Darts Championship debut after being denied in 2020: “A dream that you have is destroyed by a virus”

Martijn Kleermaker missed out on participation in the PDC World Darts Championship last year due to a corona infection. This year the 30-year old Dutchman can still make his debut.

Kleermaker received the bad news that he was infected with the corona virus just before the World Championships last year. "A dream that you have is destroyed by a virus. That was very surreal. I felt like I was in a bad dream," Kleermaker told Sportnieuws.nl.

'The Dutch Giant' then had a difficult start to the year. "Except for lesser smell and taste, I didn't suffer from the virus when I had just tested positive. But at the beginning of 2021 I got tired, I couldn't make long days. The first Super Series was a drama.

Kleermaker then changed management. "That was in April. I started exercising more, paying attention to my body. That quickly produced results. I got into a really good run." In late April he made it to the final of Players Championship 11 (Super Series 3), in which compatriot Dirk van Duijvenbode was too strong. "But by then I had realized that I had pretty much clinched a ticket to the World Championship."

The 30-year-old Dutchman is therefore looking forward to his debut at the PDC World Championship, where he will take on Greek John Michael in the opening round. "When I look at my abilities, I think I should win. I do consider myself the better player. It means a lot to me to be at the World Cup. For years you see those packed halls on television. It's the biggest reward for a darter.

Kleermaker did not have the best preparation, at the Players Championship Finals (the last major tournament before the World Cup) he lost in the first round against Scott Mitchell.

"There I was really not good. I wasn't there at all, my dad had had a brain haemorrhage just before. Fortunately, he's doing better now. But I didn't go there well. I wanted to perform well for him, but felt at one point that the emotion took over."