Noa-Lynn van Leuven blazes trail and feels the love at Alexandra Palace
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The first trans woman to feature at the PDC world darts championship says she just wants to play. From every corner of the West Hall, from the stands to the table seats, came a ringing of boos. Up on the stage Noa-Lynn van Leuven held her head high. Tried to maintain her focus amid the cacophony of derision and disdain being flung her way by the crowd.
![[Jonathan Liew]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2019/11/25/Jonathan_Liew.png?width=75&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Now, before your favourite patriotic news outlet gets too excited, this was no act of protest, or prejudice, or cruelty. Van Leuven was simply paying the public penalty that awaits all players when they start a leg with two 180s and then miss the seventh dart of an attempted nine-dart finish. Just a normal thing that happens all the time, and is really no big deal.
![[Noa-Lynn van Leuven and Kevin Doets at the world darts championship]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/65b1e9f030950811a0e26b53441d5c7cf072f803/0_49_4295_2578/master/4295.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
As, in a way, is van Leuven’s very presence at Alexandra Palace this year. And taken out of context, the sight of the world No 144 losing to the world No 51, Kevin Doets, in the first round would scarcely merit much comment outside of the Netherlands, from where both players hail. But then, you have the context.
![[Fallon Sherrock narrowly lost 3-2 to Ryan Meikle, who will face Luke Littler in the second round.]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/e96bf1d13c8862b5ae1bf339941d41a851418553/0_196_6000_3600/master/6000.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
That context being death threats on a daily basis. Vicious messages on social media. Even now, the Professional Darts Corporation has to switch off comments every time it posts about her on X. But the 28-year-old from Heemskerk has long since accustomed herself to the savage gaze. Long since learned to shut out the noise, take solace in the simplicity and the sincerity of three darts and a target.
