Jonas Hunold/PDC Europe

'Gary Anderson and Peter Wright are the exceptions' - Van der Voort says the days of over-50s in the PDC are numbered

Originally posted on Dartsnews.com | Last updated Aug 20, 2025 11:48 AM ET

Vincent van der Voort believes the darts landscape will undergo a dramatic shift in the coming years, with younger players set to dominate the Pro Tour.

The 49-year-old Dutchman, who called time on his PDC career at the end of last year, spoke on the latest episode of the Darts Draait Door podcast about the rise of a new generation. “I think the youth are going to take over darts more and more,” Van der Voort said. “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."

"It’s becoming more competitive, younger and bigger”

Van der Voort, who now mentors 17-year-old prospect Quinn Sneeboer, sees the changes first-hand at tournaments. He believes darts is starting to resemble football in terms of career length.

“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.”

The former Dutch star highlighted the scale of the emerging talent pool, many of whom are already producing world-class numbers as teenagers. “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.”

Backing the next generation

Since March, Van der Voort has been working closely with Sneeboer and has been hugely impressed with his development. “He’s a really good player. And just think: he’s only been playing for a year.”

For Van der Voort, the writing is on the wall: darts is heading for a generational handover, and the pace of that transition looks set to accelerate.