Dutch darts player Jelle Klaassen has announced his immediate retirement from professional darts, citing a “lost battle” with chronic wrist tendonitis that has plagued him for over two years.
The 38-year-old, known for his smooth throwing action and consistent floor tournament performances, made the emotional announcement via a statement released by his management team on Tuesday.
“This is the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make, but my wrist has left me with no choice,” Klaassen wrote. “I have fought through pain, taken injections, and spent countless hours in physiotherapy. But the tendonitis keeps returning, and I can no longer throw with the freedom and accuracy the sport demands. I have lost the battle against my own body.”
Klaassen first broke into the wider darts spotlight in the late 2010s, earning a PDC Tour Card in 2018. While he never captured a major televised title, he was a respected figure on the Challenge and Pro Tours, known for his 98+ average on his best days and a calm demeanor at the oche.
His physical struggles became publicly noticeable in 2023, when he withdrew from several European Tour qualifying events. Fellow players and fans observed a gradual change in his once-fluid release, often wincing between throws during longer matches.
“Jelle was one of those players who could beat anyone on his day,” said longtime rival and friend Martijn van Velzen. “But when the wrist went, the consistency went. It’s a cruel way for a precision athlete to go out—not beaten by an opponent, but by a small, stubborn joint.”
The PDC issued a brief tribute, thanking Klaassen for his professionalism and wishing him well in his future endeavors.
Klaassen leaves the sport with one Development Tour title and three WDF-ranked event wins to his name. He has not ruled out a future behind the scenes, telling supporters, “I’d love to stay involved, maybe coaching. But as a player? The board is silent. Goodbye to the darting life I loved.”
