Twelve-year-old Aaron De Ridder is set for a landmark moment in his young career this weekend, as he lines up for the JDC Advanced Tour alongside six other Belgian talents. The JDC Advanced Tour is the leading international circuit for players under 18, and De Ridder's participation marks a rapid rise from a lockdown hobby to competing at the highest youth level. His family finds it hard to grasp how quickly everything has progressed, with his mother, Kerenza Bevernage, noting to Het Nieuwsblad that it began when Aaron, then eight, started watching darts on TV during the pandemic and immediately wanted to try it. His grandfather bought him a dartboard, which was almost sold out everywhere, and from that moment, the board at home hardly ever stood still.
Initially, his parents saw darts as pure enjoyment, but that view changed after his first youth tournament, where people from the darts scene told them he had talent. Despite the praise, the family stays grounded, avoiding pressure on performances or results. Aaron trains extensively—"He wakes up with darts and goes to bed with it," his mother laughs—but they emphasize that it must stay fun. This approach has paid off, as De Ridder qualified for the JDC Advanced Tour through a qualifier, where he will face the best youth players, including former world champion Lex Paeshuyse. For 2026, the Advanced Tour has been expanded to 64 players, who will play twenty tournaments across five weekends in Bristol, England.
When Aaron qualified, he didn't immediately grasp the achievement, only realizing it a day later and showing pride. His ambition is modest: he aims to reach a last four or last eight sometime but mainly wants to gain experience and enjoy playing against the best youth players. Logistically, the family travels to England on weekends to minimize school disruption, leaving on Friday and returning on Sunday evening, with schoolwork remaining a priority. They coordinate with other parents via a WhatsApp group and stay at the same hotel, allowing the kids to relax together after matches. Aaron's role model is Gerwyn Price, drawn to his passion and intensity, but he downplays reaching that level, saying, "We'll have to wait and see. I'm still young. I just want to keep training and see where I end up."
