Top Dutch darting stars sign contract with TOTO Dart Kings

Starting with the Premier League in Sheffield (May 12) five Dutch top darts players will be part of a new team. Founder Chris Woerts brings together Raymond van Barneveld, Dirk van Duijvenbode, Michael van Gerwen, Danny Noppert and Vincent van der Voort. They sign a three-year contract with TOTO Dart Kings, which has found a name sponsor in betting agency TOTO.

Michael van Gerwen is combative and hopes that the partnership will spur him on to quickly regain the number one position in the world rankings. "Last year I lost my number one position in the world rankings. I would love to regain it. By joining a team with a lot of experience and talent, I think we can all perform better. And I can get back to where I belong: at number one.''

Raymond van Barneveld takes new inspiration from this new step in his career. "It has always been a dream for me to play in a team. This is now possible with TOTO Dart Kings, with all those guys fighting for the prizes. That gives me inspiration to do this again. I hope to contribute to the team with my experience. Proud that I can be part of it.''

Chris Woerts, sports marketer and founder of TOTO Dart Kings, is proud that he managed to bring the Dutch top darts together in one team. "From idea to realisation. What is possible in skating with individual athletes in a team, should also be possible in darts. I have always been convinced of that. Dart Kings is going to give a new dimension to darts in the Netherlands. Jason Thame, Michael van Gerwen's manager, was immediately enthusiastic. And the other darts players thought it was a unique initiative. The team was born. The enthusiasm spread to TOTO and I am proud that TOTO wants to be the namesake of the team for the next three years."

TOTO Dart Kings consists of Raymond van Barneveld, Dirk van Duijvenbode, Michael van Gerwen, Danny Noppert and Vincent van der Voort. For the next three years they will perform under this team name at all tournaments on the darts calendar.

On the sleeve of their shirts the TOTO-logo appears in the shape of a flight. The team can be followed via the website totodartkings.nl, or via their channels on social media.

Besides founder Chris Woerts, Jaco van Bodegom (operational manager) and Pieter Verbeek (media manager) are also part of the team. Van Bodegom has a long record of success in darts, among others as former manager of Raymond van Barneveld. While, Verbeek is known as a darts journalist with both Dartsnieuws.com and DartsNews.com.