Noa-Lynn van Leuven to become first trans darts player at Ally Pally with shot at World Championship
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Dutch darts player Noa-Lynn van Leuven is set to make history as the first transgender competitor at the PDC World Championship at Alexandra Palace.
The 28-year-old secured her spot through a victory in the PDC Women's Series event in Leicester on 19 October.
She triumphed over Beau Greaves in the final with a 5-3 score, having previously defeated Lisa Ashton and Lorraine Hyde in earlier rounds.
This achievement comes just two years after Van Leuven made her PDC Women's Series debut in 2022, following her transition in 2021.
Van Leuven's decision to compete at Ally Pally means she will forgo the Women's World Championship at Lakeside.
This choice aligns with the PDC's rule change last year, which prevents players from participating in both events.
Noa-Lynn van Leuven is set to become the first trans player to play at the Alexandra Palace
PDC
Only a handful of women have previously competed at Alexandra Palace.
Fallon Sherrock will join Van Leuven at this year's PDC World Championship, having also declined her Lakeside invitation.
The WDF Lakeside World Championships include men's, women's, and juniors events.
Players qualifying for both tournaments must now choose between the two, highlighting the growing opportunities and challenges for women in professional darts.
Van Leuven's recent success in darts extends beyond her World Championship qualification.
She has twice reached the semi-finals of her home tournament, the Dutch Open, most recently in the 2024 edition.
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Her performances have also earned her a spot in the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts, thanks to her runner-up position on the Women's Series order of merit.
She will join Women's World Matchplay winner Beau Greaves in this prestigious event.
Van Leuven's achievements since transitioning in 2021 highlight her rapid rise in the sport.
Van Leuven spoke candidly about the positive impact of returning to darts after her transition.
Noa-Lynn van Leuven declined a Lakeside invitation to play at the World Championship
PDC
"Since the transition it has been three or four years until I started playing darts again," she told the PA news agency.
"I was playing darts for nine years and I was missing something in life and then I started playing darts again, I missed the game, I missed the people within darts."
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VAN LEUVEN WINS EVENT 21! 🏆
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) October 19, 2024
Noa-Lynn van Leuven clinches her fourth Women's Series title of the year, defeating Beau Greaves 5-3 in the final!
It was a fantastic performance from van Leuven, who averaged a staggering 109.64! pic.twitter.com/kfl17ycvls
She added, "It is a dream to come true, the years before I transitioned I didn't even have any dreams.
"I wasn't happy. Now I am happy again and I have so much to live for.
"I really love darts, I love playing it, I love meeting new people and travelling and that is all possible because of darts."
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