Vincent van der Voort will not be playing in the World Championship. The 50-year-old Dutchman, who has been absent from the professional circuit for two years, has put an end to rumours of a return at Alexandra Palace: he will not be taking part in the qualifying tournament reserved for Dutch and Belgian players on Saturday 14 November, which will award the final place in the December tournament.
“I’m not going to do it. That’s one hundred per cent certain,” he announced on the Dutch podcast Darts Draait Door. For the past few weeks, the former World Championship quarter-finalist had been hinting that he wasn’t ruling out one last attempt. This time, the decision is final.
“You should only go if you think you can win”
Van der Voort has no doubts about his ability in a single match. The problem lies elsewhere: qualification is decided over a whole day, with five or six matches to play in quick succession in the hope of securing a place.
“It’s not going to happen. I’ve thought about it, but I’ve decided against it. You should only go for it if you think you can win. That’s not the case for me at the moment. I can perform at a high level, but I’d need to sustain that over five or six matches,” he explained.
“If there’d only been one match, I’d have given it a go. That’s not the problem. But if I have to play from nine in the morning until six in the evening, I don’t think I can manage it right now. By midday, my whole body starts to ache, from head to toe. It’s simply not going to happen,” he added, with a slightly embarrassed laugh.
Fitness as the main reason
Physical fitness is the main reason for his withdrawal. Van der Voort also has professional commitments with Viaplay, where he works as a consultant , a role that keeps him away from competition but close to the major events on the calendar.
This isn’t a decision driven by fear of the opposition’s standard. The real obstacle lies in the repeated exertion: the players involved have to play back-to-back matches on the same day, and they need to win several matches in a row to see the competition through to the end. Being in peak form for just one round isn’t enough.
Just one place, and a prize that can make or break a season
Saturday’s tournament offers just one place at the World Championship. All Dutch and Belgian players who have not yet secured their place will be there, sharing the same ambition but in very different situations depending on their season so far.
Van der Voort knows what’s at stake: “It really is the last big chance. Everything can change if we qualify for the World Championship. ’ A place at Alexandra Palace is, in fact, much more than just a match. It means guaranteed prize money, global television exposure and, for many players, the chance to fund an entire season on the circuit.
A World Championship without him
The World Championship begins on 11 December at Alexandra Palace in London and ends on 3 January. Van der Voort will follow the competition from afar, in the role of consultant which he now fulfils away from the dartboard. His last appearance on the professional circuit was two years ago, and there is currently no indication that a return is on the cards.
His decision also highlights the reality of the end of the season: between the Grand Slam of Darts, the Players Championship Finals and the race for qualification for London, players’ bodies are pushed to the limit. For a 50-year-old player who is no longer used to long days, the equation no longer adds up. Those who try their luck on Saturday, however, will have to keep going until the evening.
