History-making trans darts player Noa-Lynn van Leuven receives warm welcome at World Championships

As Noa-Lynn van Leuven made her way to the stage, with her red hair flowing and lipstick gleaming under the lights, it was uncertain how the crowd would respond.

In the long history of sports audiences, from Rome's Colosseum to this darts venue near the north circular, they typically express themselves in one of two ways: cheering or booing. How would the World Championship at Alexandra Palace respond to its first transgender competitor?

Just minutes prior, a gentle wave of boos surfaced when Van Leuven’s image appeared on screen during a pre-match interview. There were some wolf whistles as she approached her mark at the runway. However, any signs of disapproval were overshadowed initially by her entrance song, ‘Euphoria’ by Loreen, and then by the excitement of the majority of fans.

The crowd at Alexandra Palace, gathered around folding tables, might be seen as a reflection of British society, epitomised by the cultural tradition of a large stag party. At 1 PM on a Tuesday, most of the audience was already quite inebriated, but they broadly welcomed the trans athlete.

According to ‘Independent’, support for Van Leuven grew as the match progressed, with her showcasing skill by winning the first set and then competing fiercely against Kevin Doets. Her average of 87.02 was close to Doets’s, and she scored six 180s versus his three. A pivotal moment occurred in the second set with a series of missed doubles shared between them, reminiscent of amateur games. Stuck at five, while Doets was at two, it took him 33 darts to win that amusing round, after which he jokingly mimed shooting himself in frustration.

After tying at 1-1, Doets took the lead in the third set, and Van Leuven elevated her performance in the fourth, throwing consecutive 180s to engage the crowd. Unfortunately, she couldn’t complete the nine-dart finish either time, ultimately losing the match to Doets with a score of 3-1.

“Honestly, I didn’t expect the crowd to be really terrible,” Van Leuven reflected afterwards. “I hope they were on my side, and I think they were. They just want to see good darts. Kevin and I both delivered that.”

What stood out the most was how unremarkable her presence seemed. With chants like “stand up if you love the darts!” echoing around the venue, it appeared that few people were particularly concerned about who was playing.

Her opponent, Doets, shared this sentiment, embracing Van Leuven post-match. “When I’m on stage, I don’t care who I play,” he stated after securing a second-round match against world No. 2, Michael Smith.

Despite the support, harsher criticisms have been present, from opponents on the women’s tour to her own Dutch teammates who protested her inclusion. Martina Navratilova’s comment on a win by Van Leuven in a women’s competition, calling it undesirable, spurred a wave of online negativity.

What drives her to continue playing? “It’s my love of darts,” she said. “The game is wonderful, and I just want to participate. Why should it matter who you are? Negative opinions about me reflect more on the people who hold them.”

Critics claim she gains an edge from male puberty, yet young talents like Luke Littler have bested adults at a young age, and champions vary in height like Beau Greaves and Phil Taylor. The PDC rules do not forbid her from competing or imply she has an unfair advantage, mainly requiring proof of a testosterone level under 10 nmol/L for the previous year. While many sports have barred transgender athletes, the PDC remains inclusive.

“The PDC's support has been fantastic,” she emphasised. “They back their rules... Unlike some sports that simply ban trans individuals if they've experienced male puberty. It’s disheartening in the UK.”

Many might remain unconvinced. Certain news outlet comments are undoubtedly filled with hostility, often stemming from fear. True fear is feeling trapped in the wrong body. Van Leuven shared that she faced bullying and severe depression as a teenager, having to decide: “End it, or live as I want,” she told The Guardian.

“I stopped darts for a while due to personal unhappiness,” she explained, noting the loss of valuable competitive experience.

Isn’t it positive for a trans woman to continue her passion in a sport with no physical advantage? Her presence might inspire others to stay active in sports or life. She played her game, exited after losing, and waved goodbye, leaving a warmly drunken audience cheering her off stage.