Niels Zonneveld
| Niels Zonneveld | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Zonneveld in 2021 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Nickname | "Triple Z" | ||
| Born | 22 July 1998 Uitgeest, Netherlands[1] | ||
| Darts information | |||
| Playing darts since | 2014 | ||
| Darts | 23g Shot Signature[2] | ||
| Laterality | Left-handed[2] | ||
| Walk-on music | "The Nights" by Avicii[2] | ||
| Organisation (see split in darts) | |||
| PDC | 2019–present (Tour Card: 2019–present) | ||
| Current world ranking | (PDC) 37  1 (30 August 2026)[3] | ||
| PDC premier events – best performances | |||
| World Championship | Last 32: 2026 | ||
| World Matchplay | Last 32: 2026 | ||
| UK Open | Last 32: 2022 | ||
| PC Finals | Last 16: 2023, 2024 | ||
| Masters | Last 32: 2026 | ||
| World Series Finals | Quarter-final: 2021 | ||
| Other tournament wins | |||
| |||
Niels Zonneveld (born 22 July 1998)[4] is a Dutch professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. Nicknamed "Triple Z", he has been a professional since 2019. In his youth career, he won two PDC Development Tours and reached the semi-finals of the 2020 PDC World Youth Championship. He contested his first PDC ranking final at Players Championship 22 on the 2025 PDC Pro Tour. He has reached the semi-finals of three European Tour events, and was a quarter-finalist at the 2021 World Series Finals.
Career
2018–2021
Zonneveld started playing on the PDC Development Tour in 2018, picking up his first title on the tour in only his fourth event where he defeated Joe Davis 5–2 in the final.[5] At the end of the 2018 Development Tour season, he finished 9th on the Order of Merit ranking. Zonneveld attended European Q-School in 2019, where he won his PDC Tour Card on Day 1, beating Christian Gödl 5–1 in the final.[6] He made it to the semi finals of the 2020 PDC World Youth Championship but lost to the eventual champion Bradley Brooks 6–1.
Zonneveld qualified for the 2021 PDC World Darts Championship through the PDPA Rest of the World Qualifier.[7][8] This was his debut at the competition.[9] He went out in the first round, being whitewashed by William O'Connor 3–0 in sets.[10] After the World Championship, he regained his Tour Card at 2021 Q-School.[11] Zonneveld qualified for the 2021 World Series of Darts Finals as one of the four Tour Card holder qualifiers,[12] where he had his deepest run at a PDC major event. He reached the quarter finals, including a 6–4 victory over Gary Anderson in the second round.[13] His run was ended by Krzysztof Ratajski.[14]
2022–2025
Zonneveld reached the fifth round of the 2022 UK Open, losing 10–9 to Keane Barry.[15] At the 2022 Belgian Darts Open, he earned an upset win over reigning world champion Peter Wright in the second round, beating him 6–5. The game became known for Wright's refusal to fist bump Zonneveld before the deciding leg, a gesture common amongst darts players.[16][17] Zonneveld reflected on the incident on the Double Top podcast in 2024, stating that the close win over Wright was "kind of the ultimate revenge", but explained that Wright apologised afterwards. He lost 6–3 to Andrew Gilding in the third round.[18][19]
After a 3–0 loss to Lewy Williams in the first round of the 2023 World Championship, Zonneveld regained his PDC Tour Card at 2023 Q-School.[20][21] He earned his first win at the PDC World Championship when he defeated Darren Webster 3–1 in the first round of the 2024 event.[22] He reached his first European Tour semi-final when he defeated Jonny Clayton to progress to the semi-finals of the 2024 Czech Darts Open.[23] He lost 7–6 to Kim Huybrechts, missing a match dart to make the final and ending his chances of qualifying for the 2024 European Championship.[24] Zonneveld reached his first PDC ranking final at Players Championship 22 on the 2025 PDC Pro Tour. He lost 8–6 to Sebastian Białecki.[25]
2026
Following a 3–0 win over Haupai Puha,[26] Zonneveld defeated Michael Smith 3–1 in the second round of the 2026 World Championship, advancing to the third round of the tournament for the first time.[27] He was eliminated by fifth seed Jonny Clayton, who triumphed 4–3 in a deciding set.[28] In March 2026, he reached successive European Tour semi-finals at the European Darts Trophy and the Belgian Darts Open, achieving a 6–5 victory over reigning world champion Luke Littler in the latter.[29][30] He made his World Matchplay debut in July, losing a sudden-death leg to Stephen Bunting in the first round.[31]
Personal life
Zonneveld did not have a darting nickname until 2021, when he chose the name "Triple Z". In an interview with Sportsnieuws.nl, Zonneveld confirmed it was a shortening of "Zig Zag Zonneveld", which some commentators had called him due to his tendency to move his elbows when throwing.[32]
Zonneveld grew up on the same street as fellow darts player Wessel Nijman in Uitgeest.[33] Outside of darts, he previously worked as an accountant;[34] he quit his job in 2023 after retaining his PDC Tour Card at Q-School.[35] He has also worked as a darts analyst for Viaplay.[35]
World Championship results
PDC
- 2021: First round (lost to William O'Connor 0–3)
- 2023: First round (lost to Lewy Williams 0–3)
- 2024: Second round (lost to Ross Smith 1–3)
- 2025: First round (lost to Robert Owen 1–3)
- 2026: Third round (lost to Jonny Clayton 3–4)
Performance timeline
| Tournament | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PDC Ranked televised events | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Championship | Did not qualify | 1R | DNQ | 1R | 2R | 1R | 3R | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Masters | Did not qualify | Prel. | 1R | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UK Open | DNP | 1R | 3R | 2R | 5R | 3R | 2R | 3R | 4R | |||||||||||||||||||||
| World Matchplay | Did not qualify | 1R | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Grand Prix | Did not qualify | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| European Championship | Did not qualify | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Players Championship Finals | DNQ | 2R | DNQ | 1R | 3R | 3R | 1R | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| PDC Non-ranked televised events | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Series Finals | Did not qualify | QF | Did not qualify | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Youth Championship | RR | 3R | SF | 2R | 2R | DNP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Season-end ranking | NR | 146 | 79 | 113 | 69 | 73 | 48 | 42 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
PDC European Tour
| Season | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Did not qualify | EDG 2R |
Did not qualify | ||||||||||||
| 2022 | Did not qualify | EDG 1R |
DDC 1R |
EDM 1R |
DNQ | BDO 3R |
GDT DNQ | ||||||||
| 2023 | BSD 1R |
Did not qualify | |||||||||||||
| 2024 | BDO DNQ |
GDG 1R |
IDO DNQ |
EDG 1R |
ADO DNQ |
BSD 1R |
DDC 2R |
Did not qualify | HDT 2R |
SDT DNQ |
CDO SF | ||||
| 2025 | Did not qualify | GDG 3R |
ADO DNQ |
EDG 3R |
DDC 1R |
EDO 1R |
Did not qualify | SDT 2R |
GDC 2R | ||||||
| 2026 | PDO 2R |
EDT SF |
BDO SF |
GDG QF |
EDG 1R |
ADO 2R |
IDO 2R |
BSD 2R |
SDO 2R |
EDO 2R |
HDT |
CDO |
FDT |
SDT |
DDC |
PDC Players Championships
| Season | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | WIG DNP |
WIG 1R |
WIG 2R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 1R |
WIG 1R |
WIG 1R |
BAR 3R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 1R |
WIG 2R |
WIG 1R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 1R |
HIL 2R |
HIL 1R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 1R |
DUB 1R |
DUB 1R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 2R | |||||
| 2020 | BAR 1R |
BAR 3R |
WIG 1R |
WIG 2R |
WIG 3R |
WIG 2R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 2R |
MIL 2R |
MIL 4R |
MIL 1R |
MIL 2R |
MIL 1R |
NIE 1R |
NIE 1R |
NIE 2R |
NIE 1R |
NIE 2R |
COV 2R |
COV 1R |
COV 2R |
COV 1R |
COV 3R | |||||||||||
| 2021 | BOL 1R |
BOL 1R |
BOL 1R |
BOL 1R |
MIL 1R |
MIL QF |
MIL 1R |
MIL 2R |
NIE 2R |
NIE 1R |
NIE 1R |
NIE 1R |
MIL 2R |
MIL 2R |
MIL 4R |
MIL 1R |
COV 2R |
COV 1R |
COV 3R |
COV 3R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 2R |
BAR DNP | ||||
| 2022 | BAR 2R |
BAR QF |
WIG 4R |
WIG 3R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 1R |
NIE 1R |
NIE 2R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 3R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 1R |
WIG 1R |
WIG 2R |
NIE 2R |
NIE 1R |
BAR 1R |
BAR QF |
BAR 1R |
BAR 4R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 4R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 3R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 1R | ||||
| 2023 | BAR 2R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 4R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 1R |
HIL 2R |
HIL 2R |
WIG 1R |
WIG 2R |
LEI SF |
LEI 1R |
HIL 4R |
HIL 4R |
LEI 1R |
LEI 2R |
HIL 2R |
HIL 1R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 4R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 2R |
BAR 1R |
BAR QF |
BAR 4R |
BAR 1R |
BAR 1R | ||||
| 2024 | WIG 2R |
WIG QF |
LEI 3R |
LEI 4R |
HIL 2R |
HIL 2R |
LEI 1R |
LEI 1R |
HIL 2R |
HIL 3R |
HIL QF |
HIL 1R |
MIL QF |
MIL 2R |
MIL 1R |
MIL 2R |
MIL 4R |
MIL 3R |
MIL 1R |
WIG 1R |
WIG 1R |
MIL 2R |
MIL 3R |
WIG 3R |
WIG 1R |
WIG 1R |
WIG 1R |
WIG 2R |
LEI 3R |
LEI 3R | ||||
| 2025 | WIG 3R |
WIG 3R |
ROS 2R |
ROS 2R |
LEI 3R |
LEI 1R |
HIL 1R |
HIL QF |
LEI QF |
LEI 2R |
LEI SF |
LEI 1R |
ROS 3R |
ROS 1R |
HIL 4R |
HIL 2R |
LEI 1R |
LEI SF |
LEI 3R |
LEI 1R |
LEI 2R |
HIL F |
HIL 1R |
MIL 1R |
MIL 1R |
HIL 2R |
HIL 3R |
LEI 2R |
LEI 4R |
LEI 4R |
WIG SF |
WIG 2R |
WIG 3R |
WIG 3R |
| 2026 | HIL 1R |
HIL 1R |
WIG 3R |
WIG QF |
LEI QF |
LEI 1R |
LEI 1R |
LEI 2R |
WIG 2R |
WIG 4R |
MIL 2R |
MIL 1R |
HIL 2R |
HIL 1R |
LEI 1R |
LEI 1R |
LEI 1R |
LEI 3R |
MIL DNP |
WIG 4R |
WIG 1R |
LEI 1R |
LEI 3R |
HIL 2R |
HIL 4R |
LEI |
LEI |
ROS |
ROS |
ROS |
ROS |
LEI |
LEI | |
| Performance Table Legend | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | Won the tournament | F | Finalist | SF | Semifinalist | QF | Quarterfinalist | #R RR Prel. |
Lost in # round Round-robin Preliminary round |
DQ | Disqualified |
| DNQ | Did not qualify | DNP | Did not participate | WD | Withdrew | NH | Tournament not held | NYF | Not yet founded | ||
References
- ↑ "Niels Zonneveld PDPA Profile". PDPA. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- 1 2 3 "Niels Zonneveld". Mastercaller. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
- ↑ "Ranking Tables". PDPA. 30 August 2026. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
- ↑ "Niels Zonneveld | PDC". PDC.tv. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ↑ "2018 PDC Unicorn Development Tour 3-4". PDC.tv. 15 April 2018. Archived from the original on 16 April 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ↑ "Niels Zonneveld seals PDC Tour card at 2019 European Qualifying School". Sky Sports News. 4 January 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ↑ "PDC World Championship PDPA Rest of the World Qualifier". DartConnect. 30 November 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ↑ "Niels Zonneveld plaatst zich voor WK Darts" [Niels Zonneveld qualifies for the World Darts Championship]. Uitgeest Online. 30 November 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ↑ Allen, Dave (13 December 2020). "Stars old & new preparing for Ally Pally experience". PDC.tv. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ↑ Hynes, Robert (16 December 2020). "Willie O'Connor sets up all-Ireland clash at World Darts Championship with win over Niels Zonneveld". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ↑ Barry, Brian (23 February 2021). "PDC Q-School: Danny Baggish and Scott Mitchell among 20 players to seal Tour Cards on final day". Sky Sports. Retrieved 25 June 2026.
- ↑ "World Series of Darts Finals: Maik Kuivenhoven, Niels Zonneveld, Mervyn King and Kim Huybrechts all qualify". Sky Sports News. 19 October 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ↑ "Gary Anderson stunned by Niels Zonneveld in Amsterdam". RTÉ. 30 October 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ↑ Brandhorst, Stephan (31 October 2021). "Uitzinnige Niels Zonneveld vestigt naam bij het grote publiek tijdens 'fantastisch dartsweekend'" [Ecstatic Niels Zonneveld makes a name for himself among the general public during 'fantastic darts weekend']. NH (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ↑ "Results of UK Open 2022". Mastercaller. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
- ↑ "Zonneveld stuurt wereldkampioen Wright naar huis, missers kosten Van Gerwen de kop" [Zonneveld sends world champion Wright home, mistakes cost Van Gerwen the lead]. AD. 24 September 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
- ↑ Marinussen, Tijn (24 September 2022). "Zonneveld stunt in België: Wright onderuit in decider" [Zonneveld upset in Belgium: Wright loses in decider]. Darts Actueel. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ↑ Gill, Samuel (26 June 2024). ""That was kind of the ultimate revenge": Niels Zonneveld looks back at Peter Wright European Tour incident". Darts News. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ↑ "Niels Zonneveld reageert op boks-incident met Peter Wright" [Niels Zonneveld responds to fist bump incident with Peter Wright]. Double Top. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2024 – via YouTube.
- ↑ "PDC World Championship: Gerwyn Price survives early scare to advance at Worlds". BBC Sport. 19 December 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
- ↑ "Fallon Sherrock misses out on PDC Tour card after early exit on last day of Q-School Final Stage". Sky Sports. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
- ↑ Wood, Kieran (17 December 2023). "Niels Zonneveld triumphs in incredibly dramatic finale to take first World Darts Championship win". Darts News. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ↑ Gill, Samuel (20 October 2024). "Niels Zonneveld and Kim Huybrechts set for unseeded semi-final at Czech Darts Open". Darts News. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
- ↑ Gorton, Josh (20 October 2024). "Relentless Humphries powers to second Czech Darts Open crown". PDC.tv. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
- ↑ "Players Championship darts: Polish star Sebastian Bialecki defies Cameron Menzies and Gian van Veen in Hildesheim win". Sky Sports. 29 July 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ↑ Drury, Sam (12 December 2025). "Van Veen advances but Smith suffers shock exit". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
- ↑ Mirza, Raz (21 December 2025). "World Darts Championship: Former winner Michael Smith sent packing as emotional Stephen Bunting marches through to third round". Sky Sports. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
- ↑ "Clayton holds his nerve to reach last 16 of World Championship". RTÉ Sport. Press Association. 28 December 2025. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
- ↑ Rivers, David (15 March 2026). "European Darts Trophy: Wessel Nijman beats Gerwyn Price with brilliant 8-3 win in Germany and says he has 'no words'". Sky Sports. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
- ↑ Mirza, Raz; Mills, Stephen (23 March 2026). "Luke Humphries wins Belgian Darts Open as Luke Littler's hopes of Wieze hat-trick ends in shock defeat". Sky Sports. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
- ↑ "Luke Littler wins World Matchplay opener after 'annoying' setback". RTÉ Sport. Press Association. 18 July 2026. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
- ↑ "Darter Niels Zonneveld heeft eindelijk een nickname en wij weten wat het is". sportnieuws.nl. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ↑ "Topdarter Wessel Nijman (25) verslaat buurjongen na magistrale wedstrijd op de Euro Tour" [Top darts player Wessel Nijman (25) beats the boy next door after a masterful match on the Euro Tour]. sportnieuws.nl (in Dutch). 15 March 2026. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
- ↑ "Niels Zonneveld werkt ook als accountant". sportnieuws.nl. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- 1 2 "Zonneveld quits job: I want to put everything on my darts career". Dartsnews.com. 22 January 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2025.