PINK LIGHT DISTRICT, IPSWICH – History will be made next Friday as Ipswich Gay Bar, The Rainbow Room, plays host to the inaugural World Transgender Darts Tournament.
By Our Norfolk Reporter: Ian Bred
Players of various genders from across the globe will gather to compete in a thrilling display of darting prowess, all in the hopes of securing the grand prize: two tickets to Mamma Mia! The Party at London’s O2 Arena.
Despite the tournament’s groundbreaking significance, it remains uncertain whether Dutch darts sensation Noa-Lynn van Leuven, the first openly transgender person to compete in the PDC World Darts Championship, will attend. Organisers have remained tight-lipped on potential high-profile appearances, though they have confirmed that several local pub-league legends, including one contestant who identifies as “gender-fluid but still rubbish at darts,” will be in attendance.
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The event will also mark the official debut of the newly sanctioned LGBTQ+ rainbow dartboard, a controversial addition that, while symbolically inclusive, has been criticized by early testers for making it “practically impossible” to aim. “It’s a fantastic statement,” admitted one organizer, “but after a few drinks, no one can actually see where the bullseye is.”
The tournament follows a landmark moment in darts earlier this year when Huw Ware, from Cardiff, became the first openly gay man to officiate a PDC World Darts Championship final, overseeing Luke Littler’s historic victory. Ware has reportedly been invited to referee the Ipswich event but is said to be weighing his options, given the logistical challenges of making fair calls on a dartboard that looks like a Pride parade exploded.
Tickets to the event are free for anyone attending in a gender other than their own.
