No Ally Pally Comeback Attempt: I Understand Van der Voort's Decision

I'd have liked to see Vincent van der Voort have another go at reaching Ally Pally. Familiar names give a qualifier a bit of extra interest. But after reading his explanation for sitting this one out, I can understand the decision.

In its report on 10 November, DartsNews, citing Darts Draait Door, says Van der Voort will not enter Saturday's qualifier for Dutch and Belgian players. His concern is sustaining his level through a full day of matches, rather than whether he can still play well in one.

That distinction matters. As fans, we tend to imagine the good version of a comeback: a few quick legs, a big finish and a familiar face back on stage. The player has to think about everything that comes before that stage appearance.

A whole day is a different challenge

I don't think we should mistake deciding against a comeback attempt for a lack of competitive spirit. Wanting to play and feeling ready to get through a tournament are two separate things. He's the one who has to make that call.

It's tempting to say he should just turn up and see what happens. I'd probably be among those looking out for his results if he did. But it's much easier to suggest that from the sofa than to be the person putting himself through the day.

There's a lesson in that for the rest of us, too. When we enter a tournament, we often judge our chances by how we're throwing at the start. Staying comfortable, keeping our concentration and still making good decisions later on are part of the challenge as well.

So yes, I'd have enjoyed a Van der Voort comeback story. This time, I respect his decision to leave it alone. The qualifier will have its own stories without us needing to write a return for him before he's ready to attempt one.

Photo: Chris Ibbotson / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0 · archive, 20 December 2007 (resized).