LUKE HUMPHRIES told Noa-Lynn van Leuven’s detractors that she has earned her right to throw at the Grand Slam of Darts, saying: She hasn’t done anything illegal.

But Cool Hand Luke reckons the sport’s first transgender woman should stay off social media as she is thrust into the TV spotlight and in front of boozy crowds.

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Van Leuven, 28, tackles Michael van Gerwen on Saturday night in their opening Group G match of the TV major at the Aldersley Leisure Village in Wolverhampton.

A spot in this event – and at next month’s Paddy Power PDC World Darts Championship – was secured by qualification via the Women’s Series.

Not everybody is happy with her progression and there have been calls for Van Leuven – who transitioned in 2021 – to be banned from women’s-only events, particularly on the WDF circuit.

PDC CEO Matt Porter backed her inclusion in the televised major, saying: “Ultimately, we came up with a policy that we believe to be fair.”

Humphries, the reigning world champion, said: “Of course I have sympathy for her because she’s a human and no-one likes being abused online.

“She gets it a lot. But unfortunately, we all do. I get it as well for no reason sometimes. It’s the way life is nowadays.

“The world can be a negative place and people just want to abuse people and bring them down. And that’s just the way it is.

“The only thing I can suggest is to stay off social media, because it’s not a nice place at all.

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“Every sport has their rules and she qualifies in the rules. So, as much as it might annoy people, she’s not doing anything that’s illegal, she’s not cheating.

“She’s doing what’s in the rules. If that changes, then things will change. But she’s not doing anything physically wrong.

“So, no-one can blame her, she’s well within the rights to do what she does at the moment.

“It’s a hard one, because there are so many different opinions that get thrown around.

“It’d be nice if people let her get on with it and play. But yeah, I wish her all the best. Hopefully she gets a win and it’s good for her.”

Rules established by the Darts Regulation Authority say the sport is “open to all who wish to be involved in any capacity and we encourage all trans and non-binary participants to take part”.

Levels of testosterone, however, need to be below 10 nmol/L for someone born male who wishes to compete in the women’s category as a trans player.

Humphries, 29, is the Grand Slam defending champion, having thumped Rob Cross 16-8 in the 2023 final.

His opening appearance in Group A is a clash against Austrian Rowby-John Rodriguez and over the next nine days, he is keen to remind everyone that he is the world’s best player.

‘I LOVE THIS PART’

He said: “This is the best time of the year for me. I love this part.

“You have the Grand Slam, the Players and the Worlds. All the media hype that comes with it.

“It has been 10, nearly 11 months since I was world champion. It’s quite incredible how fast it goes.

“It has been a great ride regardless of what happens over the next couple of months, I have enjoyed myself.”

Humphries was speaking in Tamworth where he launched ‘Darts on Your Doorstep’, a new initiative in association with Smart Energy GB to bring high level darts equipment to lower income areas.

About 250 venues across the country will be fitted out with dartboards, lights and oches.

To register your dart club or group for the scheme visit www.pdc.tv/PDCInTheCommunity +

Following a Monday hearing where both sides argued their case, U.S. District Court Judge Frank Whitney decided to deny the preliminary injunction filed by by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports (FRM) in hopes of keeping their charters, while the antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR is ongoing.

The judge stated that the teams did not meet their burden of proof in an eight-page release, noting that they failed to clearly indicate that they would suffer irreparable harm due to the loss of charters.

The teams argued that they would risk losing sponsors, explaining that sponsors “could abandon [them] if they have to compete as open teams and do not qualify for all of the races.” 23XI had noted that their sponsor agreements specifically mention that they must run all of the races, which is only a certainty when a team holds a charter. They also argued that there is a risk they could lose their drivers, as Tyler Reddick — who is set to battle for the Cup title on behalf of 23XI in less than two days — could terminate his contract.

The teams also teams argued that competing as an open team “could threaten [their] continued existence” due to the loss of revenue. But perhaps the most important argument is the team’s assertion that “NASCAR has the power to exclude open competitors completely” under the new Charter Agreement.

The judge’s reasoning

However, the judge countered by saying that anyone seeking a preliminary injunction must “demonstrate that irreparable injury is likely in the absence of the injunction … A showing of the ‘possibility of irreparable harm’ is not sufficient.”

It goes on to say in perhaps the most critical statement made by the judge: “Although the Plaintiffs have alleged that they will face a risk of irreparable harm, they have not sufficiently alleged present, immediate, urgent irreparable harm, but rather only speculative, possible harm. That is, although the Plaintiffs allege they are on the brink of irreparable harm, the 2025 racing season is months away — the stock cars remain in the garage.”

Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports, Ruedebusch Ford Mustang, Michael McDowell, Front Row Motorsports, Benebone Ford Mustang

Photo by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images

23XI and FRM are allowed to appeal, which is likely to happen.

This ruling is a critical step in the teams’ fight against what they’ve lawsuit against NASCAR where they’ve labelled the France family as “monopolistic bullies.” If the decision holds, it will have a huge impact on the financial viability of both 23XI and FRM, while also forced to race their way into the 2025 Daytona 500. To complicate this issue is the fact that both organizations have made clear their intentions to purchase a third charter from Stewart-Haas Racing as the team shuts down. 

NASCAR already announced they plan to move forward with 32 charters next year instead of the usual 36. To combat this, the teams filed this motion for a preliminary injunction. 23XI co-owners Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin, and Curtis Polk were all present at the Monday hearing, as was FRM’s Bob Jenkins and Jerry Freeze. 

Sabalenka secured the year-end world number one ranking this week after a stellar season, but she was frustrated, error-prone and annoyed throughout against Gauff.

Her forehand faltered – such a crucial component of her game – with 16 unforced errors coming off it in the first set.

She and Gauff traded breaks early on but Gauff was serene on serve, able to extend the rally in the knowledge that Sabalenka would eventually hit an error.

Despite the chaos, Sabalenka broke for a 6-5 lead and served for the set, but a netted backhand sent it to a tie-break, which Gauff dominated.

After a lengthy bathroom break, Sabalenka started the second set better but another backhand miss hurried Gauff to an early break.

Gauff reeled off four games in a row for a 4-1 lead before Sabalenka eventually retrieved one of the breaks – but she needed eight break points to do that after a mammoth Gauff service game.

Given the erratic nature of the match, a break of the Sabalenka serve in the next game felt inevitable, and it was – as was Gauff being broken when she served for the match at 5-2.

But Sabalenka could not delay the inevitable even on her serve, and a final netted backhand – her 37th unforced error of the night – secured victory for Gauff.

Zach Scroggin failed to make a strong first impression ahead of his UFC debut.

The welterweight newcomer is stepping in on just four days’ notice for Nicolas Dalby to fight Elizeu Zaleski at UFC Vegas 100 this Saturday and it appears the short-notice booking wasn’t enough time for him to cut properly as he registered at 174 pounds at Friday’s official weigh-ins. Scroggin’s was three pounds over the limit for a non-title fight, which includes a one-pound allowance.

It is not yet known if the bout will proceed as a catchweight, and if so, what percentage of Scroggin’s purse will be forfeited as penalty.

Scroggin wasn’t the only fighter to miss weight. Bantamweight Melissa Mullins was the final fighter to step to the scale and she came in at 137, one pound over the bantamweight limit. The status of her bout with Klaudia Sygula is also still to be determined.

Welterweight headliners Neil Magny (171) and Carlos Prates (170.5) successfully weighed in without issue.

In 34 UFC bookings, Magny has never failed to make weight. He also holds the record for most wins by a welterweight in the promotion’s history at 22.

Shortly after the conclusion of the official weigh-ins, the UFC announced that Ricky Turcios vs. Benardo Sopaj has been cancelled due to a Turcios medical issue.

Check out UFC Vegas 100 weigh-in results below.

Main Card (ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET)

Neil Magny (171) vs. Carlos Prates (170.5)

Ricky Turcios (136) vs. Benardo Sopaj (136) — cancelled

Gerald Meerschaert (185) vs. Reinier de Ridder (185)

Luana Pinheiro (115.5) vs. Gillian Robertson (116)

Mansur Abdul-Malik (186) vs. Dusko Todorovic (185.5)

Preliminary Card (ESPN+ at 4 p.m. ET)

Karolina Kowalkiewicz (115.5) vs. Denise Gomes (115)

Gaston Bolanos (135.5) vs. Cortavious Romious (136)

Elizeu Zaleski (171) vs. Zach Scroggin (174)*

Matthew Semelsberger (171) vs. Charlie Radtke (170.5)

Cody Stamann (135.5) vs. Da’Mon Blackshear (135.5)

Tresean Gore (186) vs. Antonio Trocoli (186)

Melissa Mullins (137)* vs. Klaudia Sygula (136)

*missed weight