Who is Noa-Lynn van Leuven? The darts star making history at the PDC World Championship

Noa-Lynn van Leuven made history as the first transgender player at the PDC World Darts Championship on Tuesday despite her journey being cut short after Kevin Doets claimed a 3-1 victory in sets over his fellow Dutch player.

Van Leuven started strong, taking the first set and impressing with two 120 checkouts, but struggled to capitalise on her opportunities as the match progressed. Born on September 27, 1996, Van Leuven is not only a talented darts player but also showcases her culinary skills as a chef in a Heemskerk eatery, situated just outside of Amsterdam.

Her passion for darts was nurtured in a local pub, where she would cheer on her dart-playing parents. By the age of 12, she was competing in local tournaments, but took a break from the sport during her transition period, which began 'about nine or ten years ago,' due to a loss of enjoyment in playing.

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Now aged 28, Van Leuven rediscovered her love for darts, leading to her 2022 debut in the PDC Women's Series. However, her entry into the competition was met with significant opposition; in March, her compatriots Anca Zijlstra and Aileen de Graaf chose to leave their national team, unwilling to compete alongside a trans woman.

In a courageous disclosure, the darts star opened up about the challenges she faced after being targeted with malicious social media messages. She recounted a particularly difficult time: "We all remember when my Dutch team-mates pulled out.

"I got so many hate messages on my socials. Deta Hedman and I were never really close. I respect