3 days ago
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DIRK VAN DUIJVENBODE has opened up on the “extreme” abuse being sent to darts stars by online trolls.
The PDC star, 32, spoke out after Ricky Evans was targeted following the tragic death of his sister.
Getty
GettyEvans was sent horrific messages on social media after the loss his younger sibling Elisha earlier this month.
After crashing out of the European Darts Trophy, Evans received horrendous DMs telling him he was as “useless as your dead sister.”
Evans took a screenshot of the abuse and posted it on Instagram, writing: “You sick horrible human being. I’m fat but the rest, wow!!!!”
Van Duijvenbode has since remarked on the abuse he receives.
And he says he has been sent messages from trolls wishing his “whole family dies.”
Speaking to the Darts Draait Door podcast, he said: ” I’ve had it too -messages saying they hope my child dies.
“It gets really extreme.
“People saying they hope your whole family dies. Sadly, it’s not even surprising anymore.
“Well, actually, it is crazy, but you get messages like that all the time.
“The best thing to do is block them right away – at least then you won’t hear from that person again.”
He admitted: “Do I ever feel the urge to respond? Always.”
Evans beat Dutch legend Raymond van Barneveld in the opening round in Germany last week.
The Englishman burst into tears, with some criticising Barney for what appeared to be a lack of empathy on stage.
But Evans, 34, later came out to clarify Van Barneveld had been one of the first in the darts world to contact him after his sister’s passing.
Premier League Darts 2025: Dates and venues
Night 1 – Belfast: Humphries beat Dobey 6-1
Night 2 – Glasgow: Littler beat Humphries 6-5
Night 3 – Dublin: Price beat Aspinall 6-3
Night 4 – Exeter: Humphries beat Littler 6-4
Night 5 – Brighton: Littler beat Aspinall 6-3
Night 6 – Nottingham: Price beat Littler 6-3
Night 7 – Cardiff: Littler beat Van Gerwen 6-4
Night 8 – Utilita Arena, Newcastle – Thursday March 27
Night 9 – Uber Arena, Berlin – Thursday April 3
Night 10 – AO Arena, Manchester – Thursday April 10
Night 11 – Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam – Thursday April 17
Night 12 – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool – Thursday April 24
Night 13 – Utilita Arena, Birmingham, Thursday May 1
Night 14 – First Direct Arena, Leeds – Thursday May 8
Night 15 – P&J Live, Aberdeen – Thursday May 15
Night 16 – Utilita Arena, Sheffield – Thursday May 22
Play-Offs – The O2, London – Thursday May 29
Evans said: “Raymond was the first person to come up to me in Leicester at the recent Pro Tour events to offer his sympathy for my recent bad news.
“I love and respect him massively.
“We have spoken this morning, and he wished me well for the rest of the tournament.
“There is no bad blood or issue at all between us, we both just wanted to win last night.”
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