“Tight, uncomfortable, and feels totally different" - Netherlands open World Cup of Darts with easy win, but ill-fitting shirts are source of frustration

The Netherlands kicked off their 2025 World Cup of Darts campaign in style with a commanding 4–0 victory over Italy in Frankfurt’s Eissporthalle. Danny Noppert and rising star Gian van Veen barely broke a sweat as they swept aside the Italian duo, setting the tone for what they hope will be a deep run in the tournament.

The Dutch pair were in complete control from the start, showing sharp scoring and composure on the doubles. Italy offered little resistance, and Van Veen admitted he was surprised by just how comfortable the win was.

“I honestly expected more from them,” said Van Veen. “It was much easier than I thought it would be. But it’s a great way to get into the tournament — we’re feeling confident.”
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Despite being the lower-ranked player, it was Van Veen who got the nod to throw first in each leg. Noppert, ever the team player, explained the decision. “If you look at the whole year, Gian’s been the better player — especially when it comes to scoring. It just made sense,” Noppert said. “Plus, it’s a choice we’re making with the rest of the weekend in mind. There shouldn’t be any discussion about it.”

Next up for the Netherlands is their final group match against Hungary, set for this evening. While many expect another routine win, Noppert is wary of complacency. “On paper, Italy were our toughest opponents. I don’t know much about Hungary, but I’m not going to underestimate them. I’ve done that before and it’s backfired more than once,” he admitted.

Oddly enough, the most talked-about topic post-match wasn’t the performance on the oche — it was the team shirts. Several players, including Van Veen, raised concerns about the fit of the kits provided by the PDC. “I asked for an XL, but this feels more like a medium! A XXL would’ve been better,” Van Veen laughed. “It’s tight, uncomfortable, and feels totally different from my usual shirt.”

He added that the issue isn’t unique to him. “A lot of players are saying the same thing. I’ve spoken to the PDC about it, and they’ve promised to look into it for next year. But for now, we’ll just have to get on with it.”

With Italy out of the way and Hungary on the horizon, the Dutch duo are off to a flying start — and if the shirts don’t get in the way, they could be serious contenders this weekend.