"My heart was going – I had to go outside for fresh air": Jurjen van der Velde reveals panic attack symptoms before dumping Damon Heta out of Grand Slam

For a few minutes before stepping on stage in Wolverhampton, Jurjen van der Velde thought his Grand Slam of Darts dream might unravel before a dart was even thrown. The 22-year-old Dutchman was gripped by panic as his heart raced uncontrollably — yet just half an hour later, he was celebrating one of the biggest wins of his career.

“I felt so nervous five minutes before the game,” Van der Velde admitted after his 5–3 victory over Damon Heta, which secured his passage into the knockout stage. “My heart was going up and down much faster than normal. I don’t even know why — maybe it was just because there was so much on the line.”

It was an attack of nerves that caught him off-guard, even after a solid first two group matches. “I was calm all day until five minutes before the start,” he said. “Then all the adrenaline came at once. I’ve never felt that before.”

With the clock ticking down to showtime, Van der Velde made a split-second decision to walk away from the practice room. “I went outside for some fresh air, took a deep breath and told myself, ‘Come on — if you lose, it doesn’t matter. It’s already a big achievement,’” he explained. “That helped me relax.”

By the time he returned to the stage entrance, the tension had lifted just enough to focus on the board. “It’s strange,” he said. “Right before I go on, it feels like everything’s too much. But once I throw the first dart, I feel free. Then I stop thinking — I just play darts.”

The transformation was instant. Van der Velde hit key finishes of 90 and 92 to turn the match in his favour, displaying a composure that belied the panic of moments earlier. “Sometimes I got nervous on the final doubles, but I hit some good finishes in this game — especially the 90 and 92 — just when Damon was putting me under pressure. That saved me in the end.”

While Heta scored heavily throughout, Van der Velde’s precision on the doubles proved decisive. “At the end of the game, the doubles are the most crucial thing,” he said. “I’m really happy I hit the final one — that moment felt incredible.”

That closing dart, a double-16 after a wayward first attempt, summed up the fight and focus that has defined his week in Wolverhampton. “The first dart was maybe somewhere back in my hometown,” he joked. “But I stepped slightly to the right for the second one — and that was the one that went in.”

Van der Velde’s calmness under pressure has been forged by experience. Just a year ago, he lost the World Youth Championship Final to compatriot Gian van Veen — a moment that stung but ultimately shaped him.

“I learned a lot from that,” he reflected. “Playing on a big stage like that made me a better player. I’ve been in the Modus Super Series a few times and beaten big names and legends of the game. On the Development and Challenge Tours I’ve also played good matches, and that’s helped me prepare for this year and next.”

He also credited his breakthrough UK Open run to the fifth round earlier this season as a turning point. “That tournament gave me a lot of confidence,” he said. “When I made the last 32 there, I knew I had the level to compete with the big players. It helped me improve my game and become more consistent.”

For all the talk of pressure, the young Dutchman remains grounded and grateful — helped by the support of his family in the crowd. “A few of my family members were just behind the stage,” he said. “They gave me a hug and told me, ‘You can do this, boy.’ That helped me so much. I felt calmer right away.”

Now safely through to the knockout rounds, Van der Velde insists that everything from here is a bonus. “For me, it’s already been a great tournament,” he smiled. “I’ll just try to play my best game in the next round — I don’t even know yet if that’s Thursday or Friday! But whatever happens, this is already a big experience for me.”

His modesty hasn’t gone unnoticed among fans, who have quickly embraced his openness and emotion. “I’m living the dream,” he said. “This tournament has shown me that I belong among the best — and the best part is, this is just the beginning.”