When it comes to voicing an opinion, Vincent van der Voort is about as far from sitting on the fence as it gets. In fact, he’s the type to show up with a sledgehammer and reduce the fence to splinters before the question’s even finished.
So it’s no surprise that when asked about the revised qualification format for the PDC World Championship, the Dutchman made his stance crystal clear. Speaking on the latest Darts Draait Door podcast, Van der Voort let rip:
“I find it incomprehensible that players from the Challenge Tour are granted spots at the World Darts Championship. They’re essentially competing in the first division – that shouldn’t be enough to qualify for the World Championship. These players should have to go through a qualifying tournament in their own country or region.”
Agree with him or not, The Dutch Destroyer has earned the right to speak his mind – and when prompted, he rarely declines the invitation, he appeared in the quarterfinal at the event in 2011 and again 2015 against Phil Taylor.
VINCENT IN THE 2015 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QTR FINAL
To drive home his point, he leaned on a football comparison:
“It would be ridiculous if TOP Oss got to play in the Champions League just because they won the Eerste Divisie, wouldn’t it?”
For context: TOP Oss play in the Dutch second tier – roughly equivalent to the Championship in England. They haven’t featured in the Champions League. And unless a Saudi oil tycoon with a soft spot for provincial football gets involved, they probably never will.
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But as far as Vincent’s concerned, the same principle should apply in darts: unless you're a professional Tour Card holder, your only route to the Ally Pally should involve buying a ticket.
“They’re amateurs. That means you should have to work your way up before playing at the World Championship. Frankly, they shouldn’t be there at all. And that some of them are also being invited to the Grand Slam of Darts? That’s completely baffling. If you finish high enough on the Challenge Tour, you earn a Tour Card – so wait for that.
“It’s still just the first division. If you're not good enough for a Tour Card, then you should wait your turn. I don’t think it’s fair that Challenge Tour players now get to share three spots at the World Darts Championship.”
That said, it’s not all grumbles and gloom. Van der Voort was quick to praise the decision to increase the number of female qualifiers from two to four – though not without a caveat.
“When women play, it naturally draws more attention. That’s good for the PDC and for the growth of women’s darts. But you have to make sure the best women are competing. If Beau Greaves decides not to participate and that becomes a trend, then you could end up with the world number eight – and that’s a step down in quality.”
So, if you’ve just returned from the hairdresser feeling unsure about your new fringe and are looking for a confidence boost, Vincent might not be your man. But if it’s unfiltered honesty you’re after – look no further. Vincent backed up his strong views with a career to match.
VINCENT VAN DE VOORT: Bio details, stats and more career information
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