Luke Humphries doesn't hold back on trans darts star Noa-Lynn van Leuven - 'The only thing I can suggest'

Van Leuven will take on Van Gerwen in their opening Group G match at the Aldersley Leisure Village on Wolverhampton.

The 28-year-old secured her spot at this event, as well as the PDC World Darts Championship, via the Women's Series.

Van Leuven transitioned in 2021 and has faced calls to be banned from women's-only events.

Deta Hedman previously withdrew from a match against the Dutch star earlier in the year, insisting she was opposed to facing players who were born male.

And Humphries has now launched a staunch defence of Van Leuven, insisting she 'hasn't done anything illegal'.

He also revealed his sympathy for the 28-year-old, too, and suggested she stays off social media for her own good.

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“Of course I have sympathy for her because she’s a human and no-one likes being abused online," said the darts star.

“She gets it a lot. But unfortunately, we all do. I get it as well for no reason sometimes. It’s the way life is nowadays.

“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.

“The only thing I can suggest is to stay off social media, because it’s not a nice place at all.

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“Every sport has their 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 the rights to do what she does at the moment.

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"It’s a hard one, because there are so many different opinions that get thrown around.

“It’d 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.”

Humphries will begin his own campaign with a Group A showdown against austrian Rowby-John Rodriguez.

And the 29-year-old is eager to show everybody why he's considered the best player in the world at the current moment in time.

“This is the best time of the year for me. I love this part," he said.

“You have the Grand Slam, the Players and the Worlds. All the media hype that comes with it.

“It has been 10, nearly 11 months since I was world champion. It’s quite incredible how fast it goes.

“It has been a great ride regardless of what happens over the next couple of months, I have enjoyed myself.”