Anca Zijlstra

Anja Carolina Zijlstra was born on September 3, 1973, in Heerlen, Netherlands. Competing under the nickname “The Phoenix,” she has established herself as a significant figure in the world of darts, particularly within the World Darts Federation (WDF). Zijlstra’s career began within the British Darts Organisation (BDO) in 2011, and she continued with the WDF from 2011 onwards.

Throughout her career, Zijlstra has achieved notable milestones. She reached the Quarter Finals of the BDO World Darts Championship in 2016 and the Semi Final of the World Darts Trophy in 2017. Her performance at the Dutch Open led to a Runner-up position in 2020. She has also secured tournament wins including the Hungarian Open in 2012, the BDO International Open in 2017, the Denmark Open in 2021, and the Swiss Open in 2022. Zijlstra has represented the Netherlands in the WDF Europe Cup, earning a silver medal in the Men’s team event and two bronze medals in the Men’s pairs and Men’s overall categories in 2022.

In March 2024, Zijlstra made headlines when she announced her departure from the Dutch national women’s team. This decision was based on her refusal to play alongside transgender teammate Noa-Lynn van Leuven, citing her belief in a level playing field for biological women in sports. This event highlighted discussions surrounding gender identity and sports participation within professional darts.