Darts
PDC World Darts Championship 2025: Ally Pally Crowd Praised for Warm Reception of Transgender Star Noa-Lynn van Leuven
Noa-Lynn van Leuven made history as darts’ first transgender World Championship player, receiving a warm Ally Pally reception despite losing to Kevin Doets, who now faces Michael Smith.
PDC / Taylor Lanning
History was made at Alexandra Palace during the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship as Noa-Lynn van Leuven became the first openly transgender darts player to compete on the sport's grandest stage.
Taking on former World Youth semi-finalist Kevin Doets, Noa-Lynn fell short of victory in her debut but succeeded in winning the admiration of the London crowd.
Van Leuven Back on a PDC Stage
Her presence at the tournament has been a landmark moment for darts, with Noa-Lynn’s inclusion sparking much discussion about transgender athletes in sport.
Earlier in the year, she faced a tougher reception at the Grand Slam in Wolverhampton, where she was met with boos and heckling from the crowd.
However, at Alexandra Palace, the atmosphere was markedly different, with fans rallying behind her and showing a level of respect that stood in contrast to the venue's usual reputation for boisterous behaviour.
Doets on the Respectful Ally Pally Crowd
Kevin Doets, who emerged victorious in the match, admitted he had anticipated a hostile environment but was pleasantly surprised by the crowd’s positive attitude toward Noa-Lynn.
“To be fair, I was expecting a lot of bad behaviour from the crowd today, but I don't think I heard a single boo for her,” Doets told SportsBoom.com.
“I like that because I've done interviews before the tournament, and I thought that she was going to get boo’d a lot."
“I didn't think I was going to have the crowd on my side, but I didn't think she would be on her side either. But they were great today, they were really good.”
When asked whether the unique circumstances surrounding the match had affected his preparation, Doets remained focused on his approach.
“Close to nothing. When I'm on stage, I don't care who I play, I want to play my own game,” he concluded.
The Dutchman now advances to face defending champion Michael "Bully Boy" Smith in the next round. Smith, who is fighting to retain his £500,000 prize money and his status as one of darts’ elite, will pose a significant challenge. Doets, however, has his sights set on revenge after narrowly losing 3-2 to Smith at last year’s World Championship.
Noa-Lynn’s debut may have ended in defeat, but her presence on the Ally Pally stage marks a turning point for inclusivity in darts, with the support of the crowd offering a bright contrast to past negativity.
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