Dirk van Duijvenbode once again found himself at the center of attention during this week’s Players Championship. After already making headlines earlier in the tournament with a notable moment, the Dutchman produced another incident that has divided opinion among darts fans.
During his match against Alan Soutar, Van Duijvenbode appeared to employ a psychological tactic in an attempt to gain a mental edge over his opponent. The moment was caught on camera and has since generated plenty of discussion.
When you can't be bothered to bull up anymore because your mate is too good pic.twitter.com/ZHT3oSQCcu
— Jeremy (@Jeremy7105) July 7, 2026
Some fans believe it was a clever piece of gamesmanship designed to unsettle Soutar before or during the contest, while others feel such tactics have no place on the oche. As a result, opinions remain split over whether the move was a smart strategic decision or an unnecessary distraction.
The incident bears some resemblance to a tactic famously used by Phil Taylor during his career. Taylor would occasionally choose to let his opponent throw first, even after winning the bull to decide who had the advantage. Van Duijvenbode’s approach appears to be a modern variation on that psychological strategy, putting his own twist on an old mind game.
One thing is certain: Van Duijvenbode’s latest action has not gone unnoticed and has once again become a talking point among darts fans. The footage has sparked plenty of debate, leaving supporters to decide for themselves whether it was a brilliant psychological move or a step too far.