Destined to be one of the best in the business and tipped by many of the world’s top players to make it to the very top….that is Jeffrey de Zwaan.
From winning the World Youth Masters to beating the World No.1 Michael van Gerwen twice in ‘Major’ TV tournaments, De Zwaan has already made quite a stir.
And that looks certain to continue over the next two decades as the young Dutchman aims high.
He is another off the prolific Dutch darting conveyer belt and Team Unicorn was quick to spot the incredible potential and the young man known as ‘The Black Cobra” is delivering.
De Zwaan hit the headlines during 2018 with two sensational wins over Van Gerwen. The First came at the UK Open Finals in Minehead when he stunned the three-times World Champion 10-8. Then just a matter of months later, he was at it again!
It was an even better performance as the young Dutch dynamo dismissed Van Gerwen 10-6 in the 1st Round at the World Matchplay in Blackpool. He went on to average over 100 during the tournament, reaching the semi-finals before losing a gripping match 17-12 to Unicorn stablemate Gary Anderson.
Along the way, De Zwaan also beat Adrian Lewis and Dave Chisnall as he well and truly announced his arrival in the darting big time.
Earlier in 2018, he had been denied by Gary Anderson in two Pro Tour Finals, but he didn’t have to wait long for the landmark breakthrough. In April, De Zwaan won a last leg decider against Jonny Clayton to register his first senior PDC victory as he claimed Players Championship success in Wigan.
His immediate ambitions are a place in the top 32 in the world and success at the World Championship. Both are surely a given, with De Zwaan now a regular in TV events and the Alexandra Palace will be a date in his diary for many, many years to come.
In two World Championship appearances, he has played superbly in 2016 and 2019 but lost thrillers to Michael Smith and Rob Cross.
De Zwaan has won on the PDC Unicorn Development Tour, most recently in 2019, and he also received the honour of a Premier League invitation. In 2019, Gary Anderson’s late withdrawal saw the PDC name nine ‘Contenders’ and De Zwaan was chosen on merit to play in Rotterdam.
It was back in 2012 that he was crowned World Youth Master as he beat Kenny Neyens 4-3 in the final. Then just two years later, as an 18-year-old, De Zwaan had a terrific run to the last 16 of the World Masters itself before losing to Glen Durrant.
There is only one direction that his career is heading and that is up. He has the talent and the temperament to succeed. De Zwaan has a huge future ahead of him and it is a future that will surely see him realise his darting dreams.
Jeffrey has been promoted to Maestro category within Team Unicorn for 2021.
