6ft 10″ darts star has agreement with girlfriend and vows to win money | Other | Sport

Dutch darts star Jimmy van Schie has claimed he wants to earn a lot of money from the sport, after making a vow with his girlfriend that has seen him quit work to pursue his dream full-time. The 32-year-old enjoyed a monumental rise in 2025, as he picked up a WDF World Masters title, alongside the Lakeside World Darts Championship title.

There hasn’t been quite as much fortune in the PDC for Van Schie, who often towers over his opponents at six feet and ten inches tall. The Dutch Sequoia, a nickname that harks back to the tallest tree in the world, missed out on competing at the PDC World Darts Championship over the past month, while he also narrowly missed out on a tour card last year.

Now though, he has put some of those demons to rest, by picking up a tour card at the 2026 European Qualifying School. “All those awkward moments and feelings have vanished in one fell swoop,” Van Schie told Dutch outlet Sport Nieuws.

“From the moment I won the World Masters in November, a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders. That’s when I showed my emotions, something I normally never do. I thought: ‘See, I can play darts .'”

For players like Van Schie, it can often be awkward trying to balance the dedication needed to play darts at the top level, with the lack of guaranteed income. Outside of the top ranking PDC professionals, very few are able to get by without working a day job at the same time.

However, for the newest tour card holder, there is a vow with his girlfriend that has allowed him to chase the dream of playing darts at the top level. “I haven’t worked for years,” Van Schie revealed, when asked about the impact the tour card could have on his calendar and schedule.

“I’ve made an agreement with my girlfriend that I can fully dedicate myself to darts and that she can work. I’m very happy with that freedom.”

Given the prize money on offer, there is just one goal that the Dutchman has in mind for his upcoming stint on the tour, with the PDC increasing the rewards up for grabs. He said: “That’s fantastic, of course, and it’s great timing that I can now start earning a lot of money.”

He continued: “I want to reach the Euro Tour for the first time and win as many rounds as possible on floor tournaments. I’m not putting too much pressure on myself; I have two years to perform.”

With a place in the PDC now confirmed, Van Schie leaves the WDF as the world champion and the number one seed for the federation. American star Leonard Gates, who featured in the PDC World Darts Championship, has jumped up to number one, while teen sensation Mitchell Lawrie is now number two.

Lawrie, 15, has been touted as ‘the next Luke Littler‘ given the quality of his performances at such a young age. The Scottish starlet reached the final of the WDF World Championships at Lakeside, but it was Van Schie who beat him in the final, as he went devastatingly close to making history.

It remains to be seen whether the pair could reunite again on the PDC stage one day, but for now, the Dutchman is the one making the move across. “There’s no better way to end the year; I’ve finished the WDF,” Van Schie said, reflecting on his time there.

“It’s a shame, of course, that I can’t defend my world title at Lakeside, but I’d rather be at Ally Pally; that’s my dream.”