"I still stand by my words" - Vincent van der Voort doubles down on WDF World Masters outburst

Wesley Plaisier recently participated in the WDF Europe Cup at a time when floor tournaments were also scheduled at the PDC. A choice Vincent van der Voort had a hard time understanding.

Plaisier currently does not have a PDC Tour Card, but his high ranking on the Challenge Tour allows him to participate in virtually every Players Championship. Van der Voort criticized in the podcast 'Darts Draait Door' the choice of Plaisier to go to the 'Bitterball Tournament' of the WDF. A statement that caused quite a stir.

"My son already said that once again I have angered many people with my comments. But I still stand by those words. The phrasing was maybe a little too black and white, but the fact is that Plaisier at the PDC just missed the opportunity to play three Pro Tours," Van der Voort said.

Last week, Plaisier won his first Players Championship. "That just proves my point that he should have thrown Pro Tour. Suppose Plaisier is 2,000 pounds short of making it to the World Matchplay next year.... He probably could have made that one now in the form he's in."

"I hope the guy makes it to the World Matchplay 15 more times and wins Pro Tours, but his choice could have 'far-reaching consequences,'" he said. "In the worst-case scenario, he flies right out at the Grand Slam and World Championships and falls outside the top-64 as a result. Then he loses all his earned money and has to start from scratch. Who tells me then that he will ever reach this level again?" wondered Van der Voort.

Podcast host Damian Vlottes recently spoke with Plaisier and he understood Van der Voort. "He was sportsmanlike and also thought Vincent had a point," he said.

"You shouldn't say it's a stupid choice or whatever. It's just a choice, but it can have far-reaching consequences," Van der Voort said. "Chances are he'll still make it all the way through, but if it goes wrong it's been a very wrong choice. That's what I want to say with it. He wanted to finish well with the Dutch team at the WDF and there is something to be said about that. If that's his choice and he stands behind it, that's fine. But he has to know that it could have been a wrong choice."

Raymond van Barneveld, who was a guest on the podcast, was also allowed to give his opinion on Plaisier in closing. "He's a formidable player. He was so terribly good in our practice sessions that I didn't dare enter my building for three weeks afterwards (laughs). "That boy can do it. But Vincent has a point, of course."