What was meant to be a thrilling showcase of top-tier darts talent at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens turned into a heated scene off the oche, as a group of fans protested the participation of transgender player Noa-Lynn van Leuven in the Women’s World Matchplay tournament.
While the action on stage saw Lisa Ashton take home the title, the incident in the crowd quickly stole headlines.
Tensions Rise Over Inclusion of Trans Player
Noa-Lynn van Leuven, a 28-year-old Dutch darts player, has risen through the ranks after completing her gender transition and hormone therapy.
She’s been a regular in the women’s series and was set to face Lorraine Winstanley on Sunday when the protest unfolded.
As Van Leuven prepared for her match—which she won convincingly 4–0—three women in the audience reportedly stood up in protest.
One held a banner reading “He’s a man,” while another wore a shirt reading “Save women’s sport.”
Security quickly intervened and escorted the group out.
Protesters Say They Were Treated Harshly by Security
Among the protesters was writer and activist Jean Hatchet, who shared a video on social media showing the moment she and her girlfriend were removed.
She claimed they had remained quiet until standing up with the sign and were immediately grabbed by security.
According to Hatchet, neither of them were asked to leave beforehand.
“We would have walked out if someone had just told us to,” she explained.
She went on to allege that they were physically hurt during the removal, with signs ripped from their hands and serious bruising left behind.
She also expressed frustration that while other signs were allowed during the event, theirs prompted a swift and aggressive response.
She claims a security guard even accused them of spreading “homophobic s***” during the confrontation.
Van Leuven’s Journey Has Faced Both Triumph and Backlash
Van Leuven has broken barriers in the sport, becoming the first transgender player to compete in the Grand Slam of Darts and qualifying for the World Championship at Alexandra Palace.
But her path hasn’t been easy—she’s previously revealed she’s received death threats, and some players have refused to compete alongside or against her.
Despite the controversy, Van Leuven has maintained that she plays on a level field.
“People talk about height or body movement like I have some unfair edge,” she said.
“But this is darts, not handball. There’s no backswing or lunge here. What are we even talking about?”
Ongoing Debate Over Fairness in Women’s Sports
The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) has stood by its policies, with CEO Matt Porter saying they believe their approach to transgender participation is fair.
The broader conversation, however, is far from settled.
Veteran darts player Deta Hedman has voiced concern over trans inclusion in women’s competitions, stating that while people can identify how they wish, she doesn’t believe biological males should compete in women’s events.
This reflects a growing debate across all sports, not just darts, as governing bodies around the world navigate how to balance inclusivity with what some perceive as fairness in competition.
What Comes Next?
The PDC has yet to issue a public comment on the incident at Blackpool, and it’s unclear if any actions will be taken either against the protesters or the venue’s security team.
Meanwhile, the debate continues—both on the oche and off it—about what fairness and inclusion mean in modern sports.