Transgender darts star wins two women’s titles in the same day after taking a break from the sport for mental health reasons

• Noa-Lynn van Leuven claimed PDC Women’s Series titles in the Netherlands
• The 28-year-old took a two-month break this year to focus on mental health 

By ABDI RASHID

Transgender darts star Noa-Lynn van Leuven has claimed two women’s titles after taking a break for mental health reasons. 

Van Leuven first won a fifth PDC Women’s Series title by beating Stefanie Lueck 5-0 in the final of Event 9. 

The 28-year-old then secured a 5-1 victory over Rhian O’Sullivan to win Event 10 in Rosmalen, the Netherlands. 

Both tournaments are worth £10,000 each in prize money, and in winning both, she equalled Mikuru Suzuki’s Women Series title tally of six. 

Van Leuven’s latest success comes just over two months after she revealed she would be taking a break from darts to prioritise her mental health.

Posting on Instagram in January, Van Leuven wrote: ‘Unfortunately, I didn’t play my best matches. The truth is that my head hasn’t been in the right place for a while. I’ve been struggling with my mental health for months, every time a tournament comes around.

Transgender darts star Noa-Lynn van Leuven has claimed two PDC Women’s Series title

The 28-year-old triumphs come after taking a break for mental health reasons

‘I’ve tried to push it aside, but this time I haven’t been able to. Focusing on darts, while old traumas from the events of the past year are flaring up, doesn’t work. It’s time to prioritise my mental health and work on getting better.’

She concluded her post by vowing to return to the sport when she is ready, adding:  ‘This isn’t the end of my journey, just a step back to move forward. Thanks to everyone who’s supported me along the way – I appreciate it more than I can put into words.’

She concluded her post by vowing to return to the sport when she is ready, adding: ‘This isn’t the end of my journey, just a step back to move forward. Thanks to everyone who’s supported me along the way – I appreciate it more than I can put into words.’ 

Van Leuven made her World Championship debut in December as she lost in the opening round at Alexandra Palace to her fellow countryman Kevin Doets. 

The Dutch player, who started her transition as a teenager, enjoyed a breakthrough 2024 as she won multiple women’s tournaments.

However, her success was not welcomed by all players, with some of her female rivals, including British star Deta Hedman, calling for transgender players to be banned from women’s events.

Van Leuven hit back in October 2024, as she labelled those wanting her removed from tournaments ‘toxic b***hes’.

She said: ‘I thought the world should know. This is discrimination. We have been thrown back 40 years with the sport of darts.’

Anca Zijlstra (left) and Aileen de Graaf (right) refused to play in the same team as Van Leuven

She later told Dutch outlet NU: ‘They (other players) secretly tell me that they don’t understand the commotion. But there are a lot of conservative, toxic b***hes on the women’s tour.

‘They see me as a threat. I throw well now (on the women’s tour) because I feel more comfortable.

‘It’s a matter of putting money and hours into it. Not many women do that, but I do. I’ve proven I can win over men, too.’

Van Leuven was also rejected by her own team-mates earlier in 2024, as Dutch duo Anca Zijlstra and Aileen de Graaf left the national team back in March after refusing to play with her. 

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Transgender darts star wins two women’s titles in the same day after taking a break from the sport for mental health reasons

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