Noa-Lynn van Leuven

Last updated

Noa-Lynn van Leuven
Noa Lynn van Leuven.png
van Leuven in 2024
Personal information
Born (1996-09-27) 27 September 1996 (age 27) [1]
Beverwijk, Netherlands
Home town Heemskerk, Netherlands
Darts information
Laterality Right-handed
Walk-on music Euphoria by Loreen
Organisation (see split in darts)
Current world ranking (PDC) NR (7 May 2024) [2]
(WDF W) NR (5 September 2022) [3]
WDF major events – best performances
Dutch Open Semi Final: 2023, 2024
Other tournament wins
Belgium Open 2023
Denmark Open 2023
Malta Masters 2023
Malta Open 2023
PDC Challenge Tour 2024
PDC Women's Series 2024 (x2)

Noa-Lynn van Leuven (born 27 September 1996) is a Dutch darts player who plays in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events.

Contents

Early life

Van Leuven began considering transitioning around the age of 16, [4] and began her gender transition as a teenager. She told the PA news agency that she had suffered depression beforehand, and that she "wouldn't be here" if not for her transition. Van Leuven had played darts for nine years before her transition, though she stopped for several years. [5] She works as a chef de partie. [6]

Career

2022

Having passed stringent transitioning tests to play in women's darts, [5] van Leuven made her debut at the 2022 PDC Women's Series. [7]

Van Leuven reached the quarter-finals of both events 13 and 14 of the Women's Series, losing to Beau Greaves 4–2 and Laura Turner 4–3 respectively.

2023

At the 2023 Dutch Open, van Leuven entered the event as the 15th seed and reached the semi-finals. In the last 64 she whitewashed Jacqueline Geel 3–0 then defeated Evelien van Tol 4–1 in the last 32 before winning against Deta Hedman and Lorraine Hyde 4–3 in deciding legs. Van Leuven was whitewashed by eventual winner Aileen de Graaf 4–0 in the semi-finals. [8] [9]

Van Leuven played at the 2023 PDC Women's Series. She qualified for the 2023 Women's World Matchplay by finishing 8th in the Women's Matchplay Race. She did this by reaching the final of event twelve of the Women's series, where she was whitewashed 5–0 by Beau Greaves, [10] to leapfrog 2022 Women's World Matchplay semi-finalist Lorraine Winstanley. [11]

She played against Beau Greaves in the first round of the Women's World Matchplay, becoming the first trans woman to play in a televised PDC tournament. [12] She was whitewashed 4–0 by Greaves.

2024

Van Leuven entered the 2024 Dutch Open as the 4th seed and reached the semi-finals again. She whitewashed Jaleesa Zegel 3–0, then defeated Kelly Streef, Tori Kewish and Kirsty Hutchinson each 4–1. Van Leuven lost in the semi-finals to the eventual winner, Women's number one Beau Greaves. [13]

Van Leuven played at the 2024 PDC Challenge Tour series, winning on her debut at event six. [14] [15] [16] [17]

Van Leuven played at the 2024 PDC Women's Series. She reached the quarter-finals at the first event, losing there to reigning WDF Women's World Champion Beau Greaves 5–2. [18] At the second event, van Leuven won a Women's series tournament for the first time. She whitewashed Roos Van der Velde, Anca Zijlstra and Hannah Meek each 4–0 in legs. Van Leuven then defeated Marie Fitton 4–2 in the last 16. Van Leuven achieved 5–3 victories over Beau Greaves and Fallon Sherrock in the quarter-final and semi-final respectively before she triumphed over Katie Sheldon 5–2 in the final. [19] [20] [21] This victory meant van Leuven had won both a women's tournament and a mixed gender tournament in the same week. [4]

At event three of the Women's Series, van Leuven reached the quarter-finals again, winning against Eve Watson 4–3, whitewashing Snezana Veljkovic 4–0, defeating Chris Savvery 4–1 and beating Steph Clarke 4–2 before losing 5–4 to Lorraine Hyde. [22] [23] [24]

At event four van Leuven defeated Casey Gallagher 4–1 and then whitewashed Angela Kirkwood and Carly Townsend 4–0 before losing 4–1 to Fallon Sherrock. [22] [25] [26]

Performance timeline

PDC Players Championships

Season123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
2024 [nb 1] WIG
DNP
WIG
DNP
LEI
DNP
LEI
DNP
HIL
DNP
HIL
DNP
LEI
DNP
LEI
DNP
HIL
1R
HIL
1R
HIL
HIL
MIL
MIL
MIL
MIL
MIL
MIL
MIL
WIG
WIG
MIL
MIL
WIG
WIG
WIG
WIG
WIG
LEI
LEI
  1. Not a Tour card holder
Performance Table Legend
WWon the tournamentFFinalistSFSemifinalistQFQuarterfinalist#R
RR
L#
Lost in # round
Round-robin
Last # stage
DQDisqualified
DNQDid not qualifyDNPDid not participateWDWithdrewNHTournament not heldNYFNot yet founded

    Related Research Articles

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Nine-dart finish</span> Perfect leg in the sport of darts

    A nine-dart finish, also known as a nine-darter, is a perfect leg or single game in the sport of darts. The object of the game is to score a set number of points, most commonly 501; in order to win, a player must reach the target total exactly and hit a double scoring area with their last dart. When the target is 501, the minimum number of darts needed to reach it is nine. For example, one way to achieve a nine-dart finish is to score 60 on each of the first seven throws, then a 57 on the eighth, and lastly a 24 on the ninth. It is regarded as an extremely difficult feat to achieve even for the sport's top players, and is considered the highest single-game achievement in the sport, similar to a maximum 147 break in snooker or a 300-point game in bowling.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Deta Hedman</span> English darts player

    Deta Hedman is an English darts player who plays in World Darts Federation (WDF) events.

    Lorraine Winstanley is an English darts player who plays in both World Darts Federation (WDF) and Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Fallon Sherrock</span> English darts player

    Fallon Suzanne Michelle Sherrock is an English professional darts player who plays in World Darts Federation (WDF) and Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. Born in Milton Keynes, Sherrock reached the final of the 2015 BDO Women's World Darts Championship, where she was runner-up to Lisa Ashton.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Dimitri Van den Bergh</span> Belgian darts player (born 1994)

    Dimitri Van den Bergh is a Belgian professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, where he is currently ranked No. 9 in the world. Nicknamed "The Dreammaker", he is a two-time World Youth Champion, the 2020 World Matchplay champion, after beating Gary Anderson 18–10 in the final, in his first time competing in the Matchplay, and also the reigning UK Open Champion, after beating Luke Humphries 11–10 in the final.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Aileen de Graaf</span> Dutch darts player

    Aileen de Graaf is a Dutch darts player playing in events of the World Darts Federation (WDF). She is member of the Dutch national team. She also plays in events of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC).

    The three-dart average in darts is the average score achieved with three darts thrown.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Damon Heta</span> Australian darts player (born 1987)

    Damon Heta is an Australian professional darts player who plays in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. He won the 2019 Brisbane Darts Masters and also, in pairs with Simon Whitlock, the World Cup of Darts in 2022. His nickname is "The Heat", a play on letters within his surname.

    Mikuru Suzuki is a Japanese darts player. She was a two-time back-to-back British Darts Organisation (BDO) women's world champion. She plays in both World Darts Federation (WDF) and Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Beau Greaves</span> English darts player

    Beau Greaves is an English darts player who plays in World Darts Federation (WDF) and Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. She is the back-to-back two-time ladies' world champion having won the 2022 WDF World Darts Championship and 2023 WDF World Darts Championship.

    Katie Sheldon is an Irish professional darts player who plays in World Darts Federation (WDF) and Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. Her biggest achievement to date was qualifying for inaugural 2022 Women's World Matchplay.

    The 2022 PDC Women's Series consisted of 20 darts tournaments on the 2022 PDC Pro Tour.

    The 2022 Betfred Women's World Matchplay was the inaugural staging of the tournament by the Professional Darts Corporation. The tournament featured the top eight players on the 2022 PDC Women's Series Order of Merit, competing in a knockout format, with the winner earning a place in the 2022 Grand Slam of Darts and the 2023 PDC World Championship. The tournament was held at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on 24 July 2022.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 PDC World Darts Championship</span> 30th edition of the PDCs World Championship event

    The 2023 PDC World Darts Championship was a professional darts event that took place at Alexandra Palace in London, England, from 15 December 2022 to 3 January 2023. It was the 30th World Darts Championship to be organised by the Professional Darts Corporation since it separated from the now-defunct British Darts Organisation.

    Chloe O'Brien is a Scottish professional darts player who plays in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) and World Darts Federation (WDF) events. Her biggest achievement to date was qualified for inaugural 2022 Women's World Matchplay.

    Priscilla Steenbergen is a Dutch professional darts player who plays in World Darts Federation (WDF) and Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. Her biggest achievement to date was playing in the quarter-finals at the 2022 WDF World Darts Championship. She was a silver and bronze medalist of the WDF Europe Cup.

    The 2023 PDC Women's Series consisted of 24 darts tournaments on the 2023 PDC Pro Tour.

    The 2023 Betfred Women's World Matchplay was the second staging of the tournament by the Professional Darts Corporation. The tournament featured the top eight players on the 2023 PDC Women's Series Order of Merit, competing in a knockout format, with the winner earning a place in the 2023 Grand Slam of Darts and the 2024 PDC World Darts Championship. The tournament was held at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on 23 July 2023. In this tournament Noa-Lynn became the first trans woman to compete in a PDC televised event.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 PDC World Darts Championship</span> Darts tournament

    The 2024 PDC World Darts Championship was a professional darts event that took place at Alexandra Palace in London, England, from 15 December 2023 to 3 January 2024. It was the 31st World Darts Championship to be organised by the Professional Darts Corporation.

    The 2024 PDC Women's Series consists of 24 darts tournaments on the 2024 PDC Pro Tour.

    References

    1. "Noa-Lynn van Leuven - Mastercaller.com". Mastercaller.
    2. "PDC Order of Merit". PDPA. 7 May 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
    3. "WDF Women's Rankings Table". WDF. 5 September 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
    4. 1 2 Wilson, Jeremy (24 March 2024). "Transgender darts player wins women's and men's tournaments in same week". The Daily Telegraph . Yahoo News . Retrieved 24 March 2024.
    5. 1 2 Veal, Jonathan (29 November 2023). "Darts helping Noa-Lynn van Leuven to dream again after transition". The Independent . Retrieved 17 March 2024.
    6. Mirza, Raz (21 July 2023). "Women's World Matchplay: Noa-Lynn van Leuven set to be first trans woman to play in a TV darts tournament". Sky Sports. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
    7. Veal, Jonathan (29 November 2023). "Darts helping Noa-Lynn van Leuven to dream again after transition". The Independent . Retrieved 17 March 2024.
    8. "Dutch Open 2023 | Women' Singles". DartConnect.
    9. "Dutch Open Women 2023". World Darts Federation .
    10. Gorton, Josh (25 June 2023). "Double delight for record-breaking Beau in Hildesheim". PDC . Retrieved 25 June 2023.
    11. Gorton, Josh (26 June 2023). "Women's World Matchplay field confirmed". PDC.tv. Professional Darts Corporation.
    12. Liew, Jonathan (14 July 2023). "Noa-Lynn van Leuven: 'I think darts is helping me to be the best of myself'". The Guardian . Retrieved 17 March 2024.
    13. Gill, Samuel (4 February 2024). "Beau Greaves gains rampant revenge against Aileen de Graaf, reclaims Dutch Open Darts title". Darts News. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
    14. Gorton, Josh (15 March 2024). "Van Leuven & Eidams celebrate maiden Challenge Tour titles in Hildesheim". Professional Darts Corporation . Retrieved 15 March 2024.
    15. "Noa-Lynn van Leuven becomes first woman to win darts Challenger Tour event on sensational debut". Sky Sports . 15 March 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
    16. "PDC Challenge Tour 06". DartConnect TV. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
    17. Gill, Samuel (15 March 2024). "Noa-Lynn van Leuven makes history and becomes first trans woman to win a Challenge Tour tournament". Darts News. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
    18. "PDC Women's Series - Event 01". 23 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
    19. Gorton, Josh (23 March 2024). "Sherrock and Van Leuven triumph As 2024 PDC Womens Series Season Begins". PDC . Retrieved 23 March 2024.
    20. "Fallon Sherrock and Noa-Lynn Van Leuven victorious as PDC Women's Series begins". Sky Sports . 23 March 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
    21. "PDC Women's Series: Fallon Sherrock beats Beau Greaves & Noa-Lynn van Leuven wins". BBC Sport . 23 March 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
    22. 1 2 Phillips, Josh (24 March 2024). "Sherrock & Suzuki claim titles at Women's Series Events 3-4". PDC . Retrieved 24 March 2024.
    23. Wood, Kieran (24 March 2024). "Mikuru Suzuki captures her fifth title at PDC Women's Series". Darts News. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
    24. "PDC Women's Series - Event 03". DartConnect. 24 March 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
    25. "Fallon Sherrock wins second title of the weekend in PDC Women's Series". Sky Sports . 24 March 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
    26. "PDC Women's Series - Event 04". DartConnect. 24 March 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.