Darts world champion voices his support for trans player Noa-Lynn van Leuven

World No. 1 Luke Humphries has urged people to stop criticising trans player Noa-Lynn van Leuven, stating she is not violating any rules as she prepares to make history this weekend.

At 28, having transitioned in 2021, Van Leuven is poised to be the first trans player to compete in a televised PDC tournament alongside men when she takes part in the Grand Slam of Darts.

She will begin the group phase on Saturday against three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen.

For the Dutchwoman, who still works part-time as a sous chef in her home country, this marks her first exposure to major competition.

Additionally, she has earned a spot in the World Championship at Alexandra Palace in December, thanks to her performance in the Women’s Series.

Van Leuven's success comes amidst hostility from some players on the tour, whom she describes as “toxic b******” due to their behaviour toward her.

Among those who have refused to compete against Van Leuven is Deta Hedman.

However, according to ‘Independent’, Humphries insists she has done nothing wrong and is supporting her.

“I don’t get too involved in the politics to be honest,” said Humphries, who begins his campaign against Rowby-John Rodriguez. “It’s not up to me to say whether it is right or wrong. Whatever opinion I have, it wouldn’t matter. I just look at her as a dart player.

“She is in the competition. She has not broken any rules. She is doing what she is allowed to do.

“I can’t say that she is doing anything wrong. I don’t really know, it’s a hard one, because there are so many different opinions that get thrown around.

“It would be nice if people let her get on with it and play. But yeah, I wish her all the best. Hopefully she gets a win and it’s good for her.

“Of course I have sympathy for her because she is a human and no one likes being abused online. But she gets it a lot.

“Unfortunately, I think that the world can be a negative place, and people just want to abuse people and bring them down.

“And that’s just the way it is. But every sport has its rules, and she qualifies in the rules.

“So as much as it might annoy people, she’s not doing anything that’s illegal, she’s not cheating. She’s doing what’s in the rules.

“If that changes, then things will change. But she’s not doing anything physically wrong, so no one can blame her; she’s well within her rights to do what she does at the moment.”

Humphries is aiming to defend the title he claimed last year in Wolverhampton, which led to him becoming world champion a few months later.

He hopes to inspire the next generation of players through a PDC partnership with Smart Energy GB, which aims to enhance playing conditions at 250 grassroots darts clubs nationwide.

“The PDC and Smart Energy have kitted out 250 venues with dartboards, lights, oches,” Humphries explained.

“I mean, when I was 13, the double was battered, I used to play on an oche that was just a piece of tape, the light was broken, there was a pool table in the way, all these things.

“It wasn’t a benefit for me, where, hopefully, this can bring in a newer generation of players.”