Van Dongen sceptical about darts breakthrough in United States: 'They'd rather watch air guitar competitions here'

Jules van Dongen was eliminated in the first round at the US Darts Masters in Madison Square Garden. Yet the Dutch American enjoyed the experience.

Van Dongen lost 6-4 against Michael van Gerwen. "For Americans it is always nice when an American is on the stage, especially against a world class player. And I went along with that atmosphere myself. I was surprised that Michael didn't see that coming. Even the fans with Van Gerwen shirts in the front were cheering for me", says The Dutch Dragon to AD.nl.

Van Gerwen said afterwards that for Van Dongen this was the match of his life, but Van Dongen disagrees. "No actually. I have been on the stage at the UK Open, participated in the Euro Tour in Prague and had qualified for the WDF World Championships in Lakeside. That is all a lot more special. This was definitely cool, but it was also just an exhibition match."

The PDC hopes to increase the popularity of darts in the United States by hosting this World Series in New York. Van Dongen, however, is sceptical. "In the United States, soft-tip darts is still somewhat popular, but that's about it. On TV, they broadcast air guitar competitions 24 hours a day and that game with those bags thrown into a hole, but darts doesn't come between them. Last year there was a tournament in New York with the best 16 North American darts players, but there was maybe a 50-strong crowd."

Gambling on sports is prohibited in many American states and finding sponsors is often a hell of a task. Van Dongen therefore has a hard time making ends meet financially. "The hotels, the flights and everything around it costs a lot of energy and money. And if you lose in the first round somewhere in England or Germany, you start to wonder why you are doing it. It becomes very negative then. For the tournaments in North America, I almost always have to fly. In Kansas-city (where Van Dongen lives) 2,5 million people live, but if I get 16 darters together it is a lot. It helps that I have a positive attitude as a person."

Van Dongen has lived in the United States since 2013, does not yet have an American passport, but does play for that country. "I live here and learned to play darts here. My whole darting career is American and this way I can also help darts in this country move forward. I won't name names, but I do get comments and remarks from other darts players that they find it an easy way to qualify for tournaments like the World Cup of Darts. But I really don't care about that, they're not my friends."