Standing roughly the height of a semi-detached house and with the sort of brutal honesty that would get most politicians instantly fired, Vincent van der Voort is one of darts’ most recognisable figures. A former BDO and PDC player turned pundit and businessman, the Dutchman has built a reputation as much for his candour as his darts.
In a typically forthright interview on Tungsten Talk during the MODUS Super Series, Van der Voort laid it all out: childhood beginnings, the rise of Dutch darts, a career studded with highs, dogged by back pain, and a future that may or may not involve a comeback. Spoiler alert: you don’t get much PR spin with Vincent.
Early Days: Pubs, Pints and a Ten-Year-Old Thrower
Like most darting stories, it all began at home. “A friend said to me: why don’t you come to a youth tournament? I did well, and a year and a half later I was Dutch Under-14 champion. From that moment, things moved quickly.”
Quickly is putting it mildly. Van der Voort grew up when darts in the Netherlands was still more about smoky pubs and four-a-side teams than televised stage shows. “That was the main goal back then. These days there are far more tournaments, but back then it all started in the pub.”
He also flirted briefly with tennis – until he was destroyed by Richard Krajicek. “He was recovering from injury and we hit a few balls with him while he was rehabbing. I thought I was pretty good, but the first time he served I didn’t even see the ball. That was when I realised I wasn’t as good as I thought,” laughed Vinny.
Enter Barney: The Spark That Lit Dutch Darts
Despite what most fans believe, Dutch darts didn’t simply spring to life with Raymond van Barneveld’s rise. Van der Voort was already around. “In a way Raymond did inspire me, but I was playing long before he came through. I’ve known Raymond since 1990 or 1991, so I was already involved before he made his debut.”
Still, Van Barneveld’s Lakeside success changed everything. “When Raymond lost the 1995 final to Richie Burnett, suddenly there was media attention. Then when he won in 1998 as the first non-English-speaking player, it exploded. I remember the photos from Schiphol Airport, it was packed. He became a national hero.”
That explosion meant Vincent’s cosy youth tournaments suddenly became swamped. “Where I used to play with 12 kids, suddenly there were 350. Raymond made it massive in the Netherlands, and with TV and sponsors we all benefited.”
The BDO Years: Small Stages, Smaller Pay
Van der Voort’s BDO spell was respectable – Denmark Open, German Gold Cup – but hardly lucrative. “You earned nothing. You needed sponsors and had to sort everything else out yourself. I worked full-time, first in a sauna business and later a kitchen company. At first I just wanted to have fun. Later I thought: I want to be professional. My wife supported me, but we had to make a lot of sacrifices.”
Continuing, Vincent also explained how he also hated the Lakeside stage. “I was too distracted by the cameras and everything around me. I found the stage too small – it just didn’t suit me. It was only at the PDC that I thought: this is what a proper stage should feel like.”
Jumping Ship: Goodbye BDO, Hello Bolton
By the mid-2000s, the BDO was grinding his gears. “The venues were poor, and I didn’t understand why they couldn’t be better. The PDC tried harder. When Raymond moved, I knew all the sponsors would follow – so we had to as well. Barry Hearn even came to Schiphol to talk to us.”
So in 2007, Van der Voort joined the Dutch exodus to the PDC, alongside Michael van Gerwen, Jelle Klaasen and Mervyn King. He immediately made waves at the UK Open, reaching the final on debut. “That was unbelievable. Financially it was still uncertain, but that result gave me confidence.” Eventually, Vinny lost to Van Barneveld, but Dutch darts was firmly on the map.
The Elusive First Title (and Beating Phil Taylor)
Finals piled up, but trophies didn’t. “I played three or four finals but didn’t win. That eats away at you. You just want that first trophy.” It finally came in 2010 with two wins over Wayne Jones. “He was the only top-16 player without a title, so I thought: let’s keep it that way,” he grinned.
Even better was beating Phil Taylor in a Players Championship final. “That makes it even more special. Phil was the best ever, and beating him felt different.” He also toppled Barney in a final with a 107 average. Not bad for a bloke once distracted by small stages.
Pain, Persistence and Pandemic Darts
Back problems from 2008 onwards made consistency a nightmare. “I even won tournaments in pain, but I couldn’t perform consistently. My stance kept changing, and you want to do the same thing every time. Looking back, I should have skipped more tournaments, but I didn’t because of the rankings.”
He did enjoy a resurgence at the 2020 World Matchplay – albeit in front of fake crowd noise. “That was strange. They played crowd noise, but you knew exactly when the tape was going to end. For me it didn’t matter much – I just focus on myself anyway.”
Today: Shops, Straight Talk and Maybe One Last Dance
Now semi-retired, Van der Voort runs a darts shop with his wife and son Kevin. “It wasn’t because I stopped playing – my wife wanted to work again. She was tired of sitting at home watching me on TV. She started the shop with a friend, then my son Kevin joined. Now they run it together, and I love that.”
Kevin is apparently a technical guru. “He can watch someone’s throw and immediately spot what needs changing. He’s always honest. It works well with Niels Zonneveld, who he helps.”
As for Vincent, he’s embraced punditry with Viaplay, carving out a reputation for being unapologetically blunt. “I just say what I think, on or off camera. Some people don’t like it, but I don’t care. The only opinions that matter to me are from the people close to me.”
Yeah we’ve kind of noticed Vincent – wouldn’t have you any other way mate! And a comeback? “I wanted to compete here in the Super Series, but the pain came back. If I return, it has to be at Q School this year. Otherwise I won’t do it anymore – then it’s finished.”
Not exactly a romantic farewell – but very Vincent. No spin, no nonsense, just straight to the point. Please never change!
—–ENDS—–
Images: PDC
