Former PDC and BDO player Toon Greebe passes away aged 35
Former PDC World Championship qualifier Toon Greebe has passed away at the age of 35.
The Den Bosch darter had been struggling with health problems for several years and was forced to undergo an amputation on both his right foot and left leg.
Greebe burst onto the scene as a teenager in 2006 and reached the Quarter-Finals of the Dutch Open the following year.
He then joined the PDC and reached the Third Round of the 2007 US Open, losing out to Phil Taylor, and also featured in the UK Open that year.
Greebe qualified for his debut at the 2008 PDC World Championship – the first to be held at Alexandra Palace – where he was narrowly edged out 3-2 by Peter Manley in the opening round.
He joined the PDC ProTour full-time in 2008, losing around five stone in weight, and went on to qualify for the World Championship again in 2010 – but was beaten in straight sets by John Part in Round One.
The Dutchman opted to re-join the BDO soon after as a result of sponsorship issues and reached the final of the Welsh Open, as well as the semi-finals of the England Open.
Greebe finished runner-up in the 2017 German Open, but in December of that year, he was rushed to hospital with a severe infection which led to his right foot having to be amputated.
Incredibly, he defied that adversity to return to the winner’s circle at the 2019 Polish Open, but that was to be his last big triumph on the oche.
In October 2022, Greebe underwent a second amputation, this time on the lower part of his left leg.
The sad news of his passing was confirmed on Monday afternoon, with fellow players and fans paying their tributes on social media.
Desperately sad day for all who knew Toon. I’ll remember his sense of humour most of all. RIP dude. 😔 https://t.co/nrpG1kZCYx
— Paul “The Asset” Nicholson (@TheAsset180) October 16, 2023
The WDF are saddened to learn of the passing of the 2019 Polish Open champion Toon Greebe.
On behalf of everyone at the WDF, we extend our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to Toon’s friends and family at this difficult time.
— WDF Darts (@DartsWDF) October 16, 2023
