Vincent van der Voort has fired back at Barry Hearn's recent comments, claiming the former PDC chairman's warning about tournament participation is a veiled threat that could cost Nathan Aspinall a Premier League spot. Hearn told Online Darts that players who regularly skip tournaments should not expect automatic World Series invitations, a remark Van der Voort believes is aimed squarely at the mid-tier stars.
Speaking on the Dutch podcast Darts Draait Door, Van der Voort said: "He's threatening them all as well. Not directly, but between the lines he's just saying it. At one point he says: if you pull out of tournaments too often, don't expect to be invited to the World Series. What he really means is: you have to show up."
The former UK Open finalist questioned whether the rule would apply equally to the sport's biggest names, pointing to Luke Littler. "If Littler wants to play, he'll just play," said Van der Voort. "So it doesn't apply to the people who sell the tickets. It doesn't apply to the top five, but to the rest. But of course he can't say that."
Van der Voort then singled out Nathan Aspinall as a prime example of a player who should have the freedom to skip events but now faces consequences. "There are plenty of players like Aspinall. He's in a position where he can cancel here and there," he said. "But he's basically just been told by Barry Hearn: you're not in anymore. You can forget it."
Extending the point with cynicism, Van der Voort suggested the warning could have major implications for next year's Premier League. "Now we have to see how credible that is. For next year's Premier League, for example. So we can actually put a line through Aspinall already. A line through the Premier League, according to Barry Hearn."
