Dutch darts player Jurjen van der Velde has publicly apologised after a pre-match joke involving wasp repellent spectacularly backfired during his World Championship debut at London's Alexandra Palace.
A Sting in the Tale for Debutant
The 23-year-old, making his bow at the PDC World Darts Championship on Sunday, decided to tackle the venue's infamous insect problem head-on. During his theatrical walk-on against compatriot Danny Noppert, Van der Velde shook hands with officials, acknowledged the roaring crowd, and then proceeded to spray anti-wasp spray around himself and onto his neck.
The move was a humorous reference to the notorious 'Ally Pally wasp', a persistent pest that has buzzed around and landed on stars like Luke Littler and Stephen Bunting during high-pressure matches this tournament. While the audience found the stunt amusing, the sport's governing body was far from impressed.
Official Reprimand and Immediate Apology
Following his 3-1 defeat to Noppert, Van der Velde revealed he received a stern telling-off from the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) during the match itself. "It was meant as a joke, but I did get a b******ing," the 2024 World Youth Championship finalist admitted in his post-match press conference. "I sprayed that stuff, but that wasn't such a smart idea from me."
The reprimand came right after he lost the first set, a timing he described as less than ideal. "I thought, 'Great to hear that straight away' because I lost the first set and then you've still got to regroup. It does take you out of the match a bit," he explained.
Van der Velde expressed immediate remorse, citing potential health risks for those with allergies. "But there were people allergic to it. Well, it certainly wasn't my intention and I told the PDC that straight away: sorry about that," he stated.
Opponent Sees the Funny Side Despite Wasp Fear
Interestingly, his opponent Danny Noppert, who progressed to face Scotland's Alan Soutar in the second round on December 23, found the incident humorous. Noppert, a wasp-hater himself, could empathise with the motivation. "I really hate wasps. Imagine getting stung in the neck. It could happen to you," said the World No. 6 and 2022 UK Open champion.
"I even told the people who were with me to warn me if a wasp started to crawl up my collar," he added, highlighting the genuine concern players have about the buzzing interloper.
A Dream Day Dampened, But Not Destroyed
Despite the controversial entrance, the day remained a profoundly special one for Van der Velde. He was visibly emotional walking onto the iconic Ally Pally stage, fulfilling a childhood dream. "This is what I dreamed of as a kid. I watched guys like Raymond van Barneveld and Phil Taylor and all those other legends who stood here," he reflected.
The occasion was made even more memorable by the presence of his father, who rarely leaves the family farm. "My dad was here for the first time too... That he was here, I think that's fantastic," the young Dutchman said, becoming emotional.
On his performance, Van der Velde was gracious in defeat, praising Noppert's quality. "After 1-1 I thought, 'Right then, put the foot down.' But that's when Danny found another gear... He found a seventh one here. That's totally fine, I'll only learn from this," he concluded, vowing to review the clips of his unforgettable, if slightly chaotic, championship debut.
