“Now I pretend I’m milking a cow” – Jurjen van der Velde explains bizarre Grand Slam of Darts celebration
Jurjen van der Velde has impressively qualified for the last 16 at the Grand Slam of Darts. The 22-year-old from Zevenhuizen, making his debut at the tournament, emerged from a tough group featuring Chris Dobey, Damon Heta, and Martin Lukeman, and will now face world number one Luke Humphries on Wednesday.Van der Velde arrived in Wolverhampton with modest expectations. His previous appearance on a major stage came nearly a year ago, when he suffered an agonising defeat to Gian van Veen in the World Youth Championship final after missing match darts. Eleven months on, the Dutchman has shown clear signs of maturity and progress. “Indescribable,” Van der Velde said on the Darts Draait Door podcast.
Throughout the group stage, Van der Velde displayed composure and courage beyond his years. Victories over both Heta and Lukeman secured his passage to the knockout rounds, with his win against Heta — a player ranked inside the world’s top ten earlier this year — particularly eye-catching.
The group draw had offered opportunities, but Van der Velde still had to seize them himself. “Lukeman was a finalist last year, but hasn’t had a great season since. And Heta wasn’t in his best form either,” he said earlier this week. With solid finishing, calm body language and measured throwing, the young Dutchman showed he could handle the pressure of the big stage.
Humphries awaits
A daunting clash with current world number one Luke Humphries now awaits in the last 16. On paper, Van der Velde is the underdog, but his performances in the group stage suggest he could cause problems for anyone. His scoring was consistent, his rhythm assured, and his finishing clinical when it mattered most.
For Van der Velde, however, the experience itself is the main reward. “For me, this is already fantastic,” he said. “Playing big matches on stage in front of so many fans ahead of the World Championship — it gives me a taste of what that will be like. It’s only going to get more massive.”
New management, new momentum
Van der Velde’s resurgence has coincided with his move to new management under Steve Mottershead, the former manager of 16-time world champion Phil Taylor. Mottershead has brought not only structure but also a dash of showmanship to his player’s image.
Van der Velde’s exuberant celebrations have become a talking point — particularly his now-famous “milking the cow” gesture. The routine, he revealed, came at his manager’s suggestion.
“My manager thought I should do something with the fact that I come from a farm,” Van der Velde laughed. “I wasn’t really into it at first, but now I pretend I’m milking a cow — only when I win, of course. It looked a bit odd on camera, but people seem to love it.”
Eyes on Ally Pally
Qualifying for the Grand Slam knockout stage isn’t the only good news. Due to shifts on the Development Tour, Van der Velde could also earn a place at the World Darts Championship in December as one of the “best of the rest.” Should that happen, the Dutchman’s long-awaited debut at Alexandra Palace would mark another major milestone in his rapidly rising career.
