Jeffrey De Graaf Aims to Shine for Sweden in World Darts Championship
Jeffrey De Graaf prepares to represent Sweden in the World Cup of Darts while balancing family life and professional ambitions.
Key Points
- • De Graaf now represents Sweden after moving from the Netherlands in 2018.
- • He reached the quarter-finals of the 2025 World Championship before being eliminated.
- • Balancing family life with a professional career has been challenging, especially with a three-month-old.
- • Currently ranked 59th, he is sponsored by Target, helping to cover the costs of his equipment.
Jeffrey De Graaf, a Dutch-born dart player who now represents Sweden, is gearing up for the World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt. Since relocating to Stockholm in 2018 for his Swedish partner Karoline, De Graaf has made significant strides in his professional darts career, currently ranked 59th in the world and sponsored by Target.
As he prepares for this pivotal tournament, De Graaf expresses his commitment to winning for both himself and Sweden: "I represent Sweden now and I want to win not just for my sake, but also for Sweden." Despite facing initial hurdles after his move— such as being excluded from the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) Tour—his hard work culminated in a quarter-final finish at the 2025 World Championship, where he fell to world number three Michael Van Gerwen.
Balancing his burgeoning career with family life has proven challenging, especially as he adapts to life with his three-month-old daughter, Hailey. De Graaf admits that maintaining a competitive edge requires support from his family due to the extensive travel involved in participating in international events.
With an annual cost of over 7,000 SEK just for new sets of darts, sponsorship from Target has been vital in easing financial burdens. As he takes to the stage in Frankfurt, De Graaf's determination to make an impact for his adopted country remains unwavering.