Jeffrey de Zwaan, the 30-year-old Dutchman nicknamed “The Black Cobra,” has spoken candidly about his mental health battles and his decision to step away from darts after losing his PDC Tour Card at the start of 2024. In an interview with MODUS, de Zwaan revealed that he had stopped practicing and playing altogether, instead focusing on a full-time job and a burgeoning career as a DJ. “To be honest, I didn’t really do anything in darts this whole year. I don’t even practice because I have a busy life at home—I’m working full-time now and also working on my DJ career. Three weeks ago, I released my first track as well,” he said.
De Zwaan admitted that the mental toll of the sport had become overwhelming. “I just didn’t want to play darts anymore because I was mentally down. I was done.” However, after a few months away, the pull of the oche proved irresistible. “After a couple of months, I started realising that I want to play darts again—and that’s why I’m here now. I just want to enjoy darts again.” He described losing his Tour Card as a blessing in disguise: “I think the best thing what I got this year is losing my tour card. I got back to a healthy mentality and started enjoying it again.”
Reflecting on his career, de Zwaan recalled his breakthrough in 2018, when he won a Players Championship event and qualified for the World Matchplay in Blackpool. There, he famously defeated Michael van Gerwen in the first round after hearing van Gerwen had called it an easy match. “I heard he said it would be an easy one, so I was thinking, ‘Alright, I can show you something then.’ That was the feeling I had—I needed to get him.” He went on to beat Adrian Lewis and Dave Chisnall before losing in the semi-finals to Gary Anderson. “I think that was really the breakthrough of my career and showed what I can produce.”
De Zwaan also opened up about the pressures that followed his rise into the world’s top 20 around 2020–2021. A stubborn shoulder injury and the constant need to defend prize money took their toll. “You know you’re capable, but you don’t perform. And as a sportsman, you want to perform. Also dealing with the pressure—that is really a lot. That’s the tough part.” The Covid pandemic compounded his struggles, as matches without crowds and isolation in hotels wore him down. “I’m really a social guy. Living in that time was hard, definitely.” His averages dropped from 95–100 to 85–80, and he felt the slide.
Now, in 2026, de Zwaan has regained his PDC Tour Card and is playing at the MODUS Super Series in Portsmouth. He works full-time, continues his DJ career, and plays darts when he feels like it. “I’m feeling alright, mentally good, and now I can probably try to get it back where I belong.” While realistic about the challenges ahead, he remains hopeful: “I think I can still perform. I can still be a good dart player—but we’ll see what happens.” His story is one of resilience, and as he puts it, the biggest victory is simply playing with joy again.
