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Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Trans darts star Noa-Lynn van Leuven is banned from competing in women's tournaments after new rule introduced
Transgender darts star Noa-Lynn van Leuven has been banned from competing in women's tournaments under a new rule by the World Darts Federation. The decision follows an update in the organisation's eligibility rules on trans competitors in events, finalised on Monday after a vote by WDF members. A General Meeting in September last year saw a remit proposed urging the organisation to restrict participation in women's tournaments to people who were born female only. It follows a large global debate about whether or not is is fair for trans women to compete in women's sports. The new rule means trans women - including 28-year-old Dutch Van Leuven - can only compete in the Open Category under the organisation. This category includes players of all genders. A spokesperson for the WDF said: 'Effective Monday 28 July 2025, entry and participation in WDF Women's and Girls Ranking Tournaments and Cups will only be open to players that are WOMEN/FEMALE as defined under this policy. 'Accordingly, WDF Tournaments, Cups and Ranking Tables will be renamed and redefined as 'Open', 'Women', 'Open Youth' and 'Girls' tournaments and cups. 'We understand these changes may be challenging for people who want to compete in darts in the gender which they are now registered as. Van Leuven is introduced to the fans before her quarter final match at the Women's World Matchplay Darts Finals, Blackpool, on July 27 'The WDF has directly contacted its Member Countries so as they can discuss these changes with affected players directly.' This change will not impact the star's participation in competitions under the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). The Daily Mail has contacted the PDC for comment. Van Leuven is currently ranked 4th in the PDC Women's Order of Merit. In 2024, she broke records as she became the first Dutch woman to qualify for the World Darts Championship. However, the star was eliminated in the first round by Kevin Doets. She also featured in the Women's World Matchplay of Darts in Blackpool this month, making it to the semi-final. Before 2024's Ally Pally tournament, the darts player claimed she received horrendous death threats, leading to a decline in her mental health. World champion Michael van Gerwen sent his support to the fellow darts player, writing: 'It's just heartbreaking. She does what she does and she can play terrific darts. 'Let her play nice. For me, there's never been a discussion, but I don't make the rules. The PDC has people who go over them. 'They can never make the right choice anyway. If they go left, people say they should go right and vice versa. 'Everyone has an opinion about it, but there is no point at all in continuing to argue.' On Monday, darts fans claimed they were kicked out of the Winter Gardens at Blackpool after protesting against the inclusion of van Leuven in the Women's World Matchplay tournament. Eight of the top women's players in the world took part in the one-day tournament on Sunday, playing quarter-finals, semi-finals and an eventual final. Beau Greaves was the heavy favourite to win the competition, while Fallon Sherrock also took part, but it was Lisa Ashton who took home the trophy. One incident away from the oche, though, attracted attention, with three women claiming they were escorted out the building for attempting to protest as van Leuven made her entrance. The Daily Mail has contacted Van Leuven for comment.
The Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Man Utd want Luke Littler to return to Old Trafford to parade latest trophy as he matches club's famous Treble
MANCHESTER UNITED are keen for fellow Treble winner Luke Littler to return to Old Trafford and show off his latest darts trophy. Littler, 18, is a passionate United fan and completed the Triple Crown last weekend when he beat James Wade 18-13 to lift the Betfred World Matchplay. 3 3 Within the space of just 15 months, he has won the sport's three biggest events – the Premier League Darts, the World Championship and the Matchplay. On Sunday, January 19 – two days before his 18th birthday – Littler showed off the Sid Waddell Trophy to Red Devils fans at half-time of the 3-1 Prem loss to Brighton. And following his latest triumph, secured at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, club insiders would welcome him doing the same again with this pot of silverware, which is a dead ringer for football's FA Cup. Though Littler was not even born when United completed the historic Treble in 1999 under legendary boss Sir Alex Ferguson, they see the similarities with his 'three-peat' achievement. No official conversation has been had yet between the two parties but Littler has close links to the hierarchy. SunSport understands they are open to talks and say he is always welcome given his love and loyalty towards United, who are managed by Ruben Amorim. On his first VIP visit in January 2024, he met up with Ferguson, 83, and posed for photos. That same month, he coached shot-shy United stars how to hit the target as he took part in a nine-darts challenge at the Carrington training HQ with Harry Maguire and Christian Eriksen. Luke Littler prize money breakdown Here is all the prize money Luke Littler has won so far after being crowned 2025 PDC World Darts Championship winner: World Championship 2025 - £500,000 World Championship 2024 - £200,000 Grand Slam of Darts 2024 - £150,000 European Tour - £91,000 Player Championships events - £71,500 Players Championship final runner-up - £60,000 UK Open 2023 + 2024 - £17,500 World Matchplay - £10,000 World Grand Prix - £7,500 European Championship - £7,500 (Unranked) Premier League Darts - £315,000 TOTAL: £1.43 million United open their Premier League campaign against Arsenal on Sunday, August 17. That fixture does not work for Littler, who will be in Auckland that weekend for the New Zealand Darts Masters. 'As a player yeah but...' - Luke Littler forces Roy Keane to agree on Bruno Fernandes but Man Utd legend still makes dig But he will then have time off until the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam on September 12-14. Meanwhile, Littler – midway through his second year as a pro – was asked after his win over Wade which of the three top trophies was his preference. It is nearly seven months since he beat Michael van Gerwen at Ally Pally to become the sport's youngest world champion. Littler replied: 'It has to be the Worlds. But my personal favourite? 'Obviously, the Premier League at 17, winning that on debut and all the doubters saying if I am ready or not. 'That meant the most. But picking up the worlds, I think that is the best.'
The Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Sun
‘I felt down.. I just didn't want to play' – Ex-Premier League champion nearly QUIT darts as he opens up on heartbreak
EMOTIONAL Jonny Clayton has revealed he came close to QUITTING darts as he struggled to cope with the death of his dad. The Welshman enjoyed an great run at the World Matchplay, reaching the semi-finals where he was then knocked out by James Wade in an all-time classic clash. 2 Their last four match went down as the longest ever semi-final in World Matchplay history, as 2023 runner-up Clayton fought back from 16-10 down to force a tiebreak. The Machine eventually won it 20-18 to set up a final clash with eventual winner Luke Littler, who clinched glory with a 18-13 victory. Despite narrowly missing out on a shot at the trophy, there were plenty of positives for Clayton to take from an impressive week in Blackpool. The 'Ferret' thrashed world No.4 Stephen Bunting 16-7 to book his spot in the last four, which was his fourth major semi-final this year. But Clayton was prepared to walk away from darts altogether after a tough period following the sudden death of his dad John in 2023 on the eve of a flight Down Under. But after beating Bunting, the 50-year-old revealed he has now rediscovered his love of the sport. He said: 'I've changed my mind! I've got the hunger back. I don't know what it is. I felt a bit down in darts, but I want to be one of the best. 'It hurts that I've dropped from world number five to nine with the rankings, but I'm climbing back up slowly. I want to be with the elite. 'When you're there, people respect you more than what they do when you are further down the rankings. 'If you're not playing well, no matter your ranking, people pick up on it. Luke Littler sends Blackpool wild as he wins World Matchplay Darts 'But if you're playing well, it's a step in the right direction. I had to do a job against Stephen, and I did." Clayton then opened up on how his tragic loss has affected him, as he admitted losing all motivation to play the sport. The former plasterer added: 'I don't think I have hit top gear here yet. "But I am back on the practice board and that is something I have not done for probably a year and a half. 'We all know two years ago with my dad passing I just did not want to play. 'I have a smile back on my face now and I have two kids who want me to do well.' Clayton has certainly managed to bounce back this year, having picked up a Euro Tour title at the Dutch Darts Championship in May. He also narrowly missed out on glory at the World Cup of Darts, as he and Wales team-mate Gerwyn Price were beaten 10-9 in the final by Northern Irish pair Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney. The Welsh darts star is a four-time major winner, with all of these titles coming in 2021. In one-year, Clayton tasted glory in the Premier League, World Masters, World Grand Prix and the World Series of Darts Finals.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Darts power couple SPLIT after four years together - after Queen of Ally Pally Farron Sherrock's boyfriend missed her World Matchplay final
Darts power couple Fallon Sherrock and Cameron Menzies have split after four years. They first met while playing in an online darts league and competed in a doubles team, and Menzies revealed he then wooed Sherrock over a KFC. Their shock break-up was first revealed by Vincent van der Voort, the winner of four ranking PDC titles, on a podcast. Speaking on Darts Draait Door, he admitted Sherrock had confided in him but was left in the dark over the reason for the decision. Presenter Damian Vlottes said: 'They broke up - you told me.' Van der Voort then replied: 'True, yes. But what else do you want me to say about it? I don't work for a gossip magazine. I don't know the exact reason either. 'She told me and I didn't ask why.' Neither Sherrock nor Menzies have publicly confirmed the break-up. The bombshell news came after Sherrock returned to TV screens on Sunday after reaching the Women's World Matchplay final at Winter Gardens. However, Menzies, who would normally be in the crowd to cheer on his girlfriend, was nowhere to be seen, suggesting all was not well away from the oche. This was despite him also being in Blackpool himself for the Men's World Matchplay earlier in the week. Sherrock lost the final to Lisa Ashton while Menzies suffered a 10-2 defeat at the hands of Danny Noppert in the first round of his tournament. Menzies also crashed out with an average of 81.35, and after busting a 180. Lifting the lid on the earliest days of his relationship with Sherrock, Menzies admitted 'it started off with a KFC'. He said: 'I had known Fallon for years in darts and played doubles with her years ago. We met in an online league in Southampton. 'The rest is history as they say. It started off with a KFC.' They used to practice together at home, with Sherrock often getting the better of him. He previously told Sky Sports: 'We enjoy our practice together and she is a very class player. She has done well for darts in general and is banging in 90 averages and 100 averages, I'm quite lucky I've got a very good partner who can play darts. 'It's good in the house unless she beats me and I've got to make the food. I don't like it when she beats me. I will support her left, right and centre. I am her biggest fan. 'I might be a bit strict, but I know how good she is. I've known her for a very long time and I know she is very, very good. She's taken me places I would never have experienced because of darts, so I'm a very lucky person.' Menzies acted as a father figure to Sherrock's son Rory, from another relationship.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
‘I can't believe that' – James Wade breaks etiquette in Luke Littler clash leaving darts fans fuming
JAMES WADE shocked fans by walking off the World Matchplay stage and choosing not to conduct a live post-final Sky Sports interview. The Machine was beaten 18-13 by sensational Luke Littler, the reigning world champion, on Sunday night in Blackpool. 5 5 It was the second time he had lost a major final to The Nuke, having been demolished 11-2 in the UK Open finale in March. The etiquette, but not protocol, is for the runners-up to receive their trophy on stage and then hang around to speak to the host broadcaster. In this case it would have been with the excellent reporter Polly James for Sky. Yet emotion clearly got the better of Wade who, once he received his silver plate off PDC chief executive Matt Porter, swiftly left the oche and went backstage. It surprised TV viewers who were treated to an interview with Littler but not with the 42-year-old Aldershot ace, a father of two. It means, quite unusually, there were not quotes from Wade about how he played or what perhaps he could have done differently. Littler's victory, aged 18, means he replaced Wade in the history books as the youngest winner of the World Matchplay, one of the most coveted events on the calendar. There are no suggestions that Wade, the new world No.5, will be fined or reprimanded for his actions as there is no obligation to speak. Yet it is good form and good manners to speak to the fans and live TV audience. Or even hang around as Littler celebrated lifting the Phil Taylor Trophy in front of the Winter Gardens audience. This is exactly what Wade – a 11-time major winner – did when he lost in the UK Open showpiece occasion at Butlin's Minehead earlier this year. Once this event, which was broadcast on ITV, was over, he spoke glowingly about the teenager that had just destroyed him on the oche. Wade said back on the night of Sunday March 2: 'I'm the senior dart player, but he absolutely smashed me to bits! 'What can you do against that? He was the far superior player. Fair play to Luke. At the moment, he is comfortably the best or second best dart player in the world.' You wonder if his decision to walk away early will impact his chances of being selected by the PDC for the Premier League Darts competition in 2026. 5 5 That is, of course, unless he breaks into the top four spots in the Order of Merit, in which case he would be an automatic pick for next year's Prem. His absence from the stage as the ticker-tape fell on Littler's head surprised fans, James O'Hara expressed his displeasure on social media by saying: 'I can't believe Wade left the stage before Littler even lifted the trophy!' Disappointed Tom Clayton wrote a sarcastic message on X, which said: 'Nice to see Wade stay on stage to watch Littler lift the trophy. Not! Piss poor that.'
