DARTS ACE WARNS OVER-50S PDC ERA IS ENDING
21/08/2025 By Aaron Nijjar
VINCENT VAN DER VOORT has warned darts is on the brink of a youth takeover and the old guard won’t be able to keep up.
Dutch thrower Van der Voort has seen the change first-hand since moving into mentoring.
The 48-year-old who lost his Tour Card at the end of last year believes the sport is starting to look more like football when it comes to career length.
Former UK Open finalist Van der Voort says the next generation of oche stars are throwing world-class averages and it’s only a matter of time before they dominate the ProTour.
He said: “I think the youth are going to take over darts more and more.
“You’re going to see fewer older players who can keep going and stay competitive on the Pro Tour. They simply won’t be able to last as long.
“In football, you have your career between 18 and 35, with a few who can go on a bit longer.
“In darts, you still see exceptions like Gary Anderson and Peter Wright, who are still at the top at their age.
“Raymond van Barneveld is even competing at 58 but I think players like that will disappear earlier in the future.
“The sport is becoming more competitive, younger and bigger.
“If you look at how many 13, 14, 15-year-olds are averaging 90-plus with ease – and sometimes even over 100 – then the old guard are going to find it very difficult. The youth simply have far more energy.”
Luke Littler has quickly developed into the new face of darts, winning the World Championship and the Premier League before turning 18.
Josh Rock secured silverware for Northern Ireland at the World Cup two months ago at just 24-year-old alongside Daryl Gurney.
Sebastian Bialecki, Bradley Brooks, Gian van Veen and Rock have all claimed Players Championship titles this year, and each of them is 25 or younger.
Image by Taylor Lanning.
