Unfortunate fall breaks Marvin van Velzen literally and figuratively: 'The Cube' suffers broken hand

Marvin van Velzen has been dealt a serious blow just as his darts career was gaining momentum. The 25-year-old Dutchman confirmed to Sportnieuws.nl that he has suffered a broken hand following a bicycle accident — a significant injury that immediately sidelines him from competitive play.

Speculation had already begun to swirl after Van Velzen’s uncharacteristically poor showing at the recent Players Championship events in Leicester, where he averaged under 70 points per visit — far below the standard expected of a PDC professional. It has now emerged that the disappointing performances were due to an injury sustained to his throwing hand.

The injury occurred when Van Velzen fell from his bike, landing awkwardly and breaking his hand in the process. He is currently wearing a cast, and a timetable for his recovery remains uncertain. The timing could hardly be worse for the young Dutchman, who was beginning to make his mark on the circuit after earning his PDC Tour Card earlier this year.

Back in April, Van Velzen, nicknamed “The Cube,” enjoyed the biggest moment of his fledgling career when he stunned five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld at the Players Championship in Rosmalen — a result that turned heads across the darts world.

Veteran Dutch pro Vincent van der Voort reflected on that performance in a recent episode of the Darts Draait Door podcast: “Barney is and always will be a legend. He still commands a lot of respect among players,” said Van der Voort. The conversation also touched on Van Velzen’s quirky nickname, which provided some amusement: “He can pick any name he likes, but he’s stuck with that one now. He’ll always be The Cube.”

Currently ranked 109th in the world, Van Velzen faces a race against time. To retain his Tour Card beyond next season, he must break into the top 64 by the end of 2026. That challenge just got tougher — for now, recovery is the priority. The Cube will be hoping to return to the Pro Tour as soon as his hand allows.