"The longer you’re around, you sometimes think: I’ve seen this before": Van der Voort warns 'eager' Luke Littler and Wessel Nijman motivation will fade

In the podcast Darts Draait Door, Vincent van der Voort revealed that he and the editorial team have launched a striking project around Maik Kuivenhoven. The goal: to give the Dutchman a recognizable look, complete with a new nickname, walk-on song, and possibly a new shirt as well as warnings for Luke Littler, Wessel Nijman and Michael van Gerwen.

Van der Voort sees opportunities to give Kuivenhoven more presence on the big stage. “We’ve been tasked with looking for a nice shirt for him,” he said. “And a nickname or something. And a walk-on song.” According to the former pro, everything has to suit Kuivenhoven’s personality. “It shouldn’t be too loud. It has to fit him a bit.”

Especially when it comes to a nickname and walk-on song, Van der Voort hopes for help from darts fans. He calls on podcast listeners to come up with creative ideas. “We really need to ask our regular listeners for ideas. Especially for a walk-on song and a nickname. It would be great if we could contribute to that.” Designing a new shirt is more complicated, he says, although that door is also open. “A shirt is of course a bit harder to send in, but a nickname and a walk-on song are definitely things people can contribute to.”

The aim is to have everything ready well before the Players Championship Finals, so Kuivenhoven can get used to his new look heading into the most important part of the year. “We really need to make sure everything is ready by early November. He might also play the Grand Slam of Darts before that, so it would be great if it’s in place by then.” Van der Voort adds that he is also thinking about suitable ideas himself. “So everyone, join in.”

The podcast also touched on the development of the new generation of darters. They looked at how many years various top players have held a Tour Card. Strikingly, Luke Littler and Wessel Nijman are only in their third season, yet they rank among this year’s standout performers.

“If you look at this year, Nijman and Littler might be the two best players. And it’s only their third year.”

According to Van der Voort, that’s no surprise. In the first years on the PDC Tour, motivation is often at its highest. “At the start of your career, you’re super eager. I remember in my first years I couldn’t wait for the next tournament to begin.”

That hunger, he says, naturally fades over time. “After a few years that becomes less. At the beginning everything is new and you’re absorbed in it all. But the longer you’re around, you sometimes think: I’ve seen this before.”

With the World Matchplay around the corner, Van der Voort also looked back at a memorable 2022 final, in which Michael van Gerwen beat Gerwyn Price 18-14. Although Van Gerwen took the title, Van der Voort mainly remembers the Dutchman missing many doubles early on.

The conversation then turned to a striking statistic. That World Matchplay win turned out to be the last ranking major Van Gerwen managed to win. “For someone like Michael van Gerwen, that was far too long ago. That’s a bit worrying.”

Since then, the three-time world champion has collected World Series events and a Euro Tour title, but no further ranking majors. “He has of course still won plenty in between, but they weren’t ranking majors.”

Van der Voort says Van Gerwen is well aware of that himself. “He plays for the trophies. Then this just isn’t enough. But he knows that too.”