Overview

• Hedman, 65, withdrew at the weekend after being drawn against Dutch transgender player Noa-Lynn van Leuven in the last eight, conceding the match.
• Van Leuven remains eligible for PDC women’s events under the corporation’s policy, which the organization has recently reaffirmed.
• The World Darts Federation introduced a July 2025 rule limiting women’s competitions to those born female, directing transgender players to Open categories.
• Hedman previously pulled out of the Denmark Open after a similar draw against Van Leuven, a stance she has publicly defended.
• Van Leuven became the first player from the Netherlands to qualify for the women’s PDC World Darts Championship in 2023 and later endured intense online abuse, while stars such as Michael van Gerwen criticized the WDF ban.