Niels de Ruiter
Encyclopedia
Niels de Ruiter is a Dutch darts player. On the darts circuit his nickname is The Excellent Dude, which is a reference from the film Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
. He is also known for using Metallica
's 'Enter Sandman
' as his walk-on music, which he plays air guitar to as he enters the match.
He began playing darts in 1999 and made his World Championship debut in the 2006 Lakeside World Championship
, but lost in the first round to Shaun Greatbatch
.
He was a runner-up to Mark Webster
in the 2006 WDF
Europe Cup. He also reached the semi-finals of the 2005 Welsh Open and 2005 Welsh Classic, but burst onto the world scene in 2007 by reaching the semi-finals of the 2007 World Championships
at the Lakeside
, where he lost to Phill Nixon
. In the 2008 World Championships
, de Ruiter was eliminated in the first round after losing to Glenn Moody
.
De Ruiter played very few tournaments in 2008 due to suffering from vertigo
and quit darts for three months until he came back to the game. He participated in the 2008 Grand Slam of Darts losing all three group games against James Wade
, Adrian Lewis
and Denis Ovens
, winning just one legs and included two whitewash losses to Lewis and Ovens. He then failed to qualify for the 2009 BDO World Darts Championship
and also for the last 16 stage of the World Masters. He has remained inactive since.
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure is a 1989 American science fiction–comedy buddy film and the first film in the Bill & Ted franchise in which two metalhead slackers travel through time to assemble a menagerie of historical figures for their high school history presentation.The film was written by...
. He is also known for using Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
's 'Enter Sandman
Enter Sandman
"Enter Sandman" is a 1991 song by the American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released as the first single from their eponymous fifth album, Metallica. The music was written by Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich...
' as his walk-on music, which he plays air guitar to as he enters the match.
He began playing darts in 1999 and made his World Championship debut in the 2006 Lakeside World Championship
2006 BDO World Darts Championship
-Women:-External links:*...
, but lost in the first round to Shaun Greatbatch
Shaun Greatbatch
Shaun Greatbatch is an English darts player. He lives in Suffolk and works in the construction industry. His nickname is 9 Dart, having been the first player to hit a perfect nine dart finish on live television, in the final of the 2002 Dutch Open against Steve Coote.-Darts career:Shaun's family...
.
He was a runner-up to Mark Webster
Mark Webster (darts player)
Mark Webster is a left-handed Welsh darts player who lives in Denbigh. Known as Webby, he plays in Professional Darts Corporation events, having previously won the 2008 BDO World Championship. Mark became a full time professional in 2009, having previously been a fully qualified Gas registered...
in the 2006 WDF
World Darts Federation
The World Darts Federation Is a sport governing body and tournament organiser for the game of darts. It was formed in 1976, by representatives of fifteen nations. Membership is open to the official National organizing body for Darts in all nations...
Europe Cup. He also reached the semi-finals of the 2005 Welsh Open and 2005 Welsh Classic, but burst onto the world scene in 2007 by reaching the semi-finals of the 2007 World Championships
2007 BDO World Darts Championship
The 2007 Lakeside World Darts Championship was the 30th Championship and was held between January 6–14, 2007 at the Lakeside Country Club, Frimley Green, Surrey....
at the Lakeside
Lakeside Leisure Complex
The Lakeside Leisure Complex is a hotel, entertainment and leisure complex in Frimley Green near Camberley in Surrey. It is most famous as being the venue of the BDO World Darts Championship.-History:...
, where he lost to Phill Nixon
Phill Nixon
Phillip Nixon is an English darts player from Ferryhill, County Durham. He is best known for reaching the 2007 World Final on his first appearance at the age of 50.-Darts career:...
. In the 2008 World Championships
2008 BDO World Darts Championship
*Michael Rosenauer was originally drawn to face Mark Webster, but chose to withdraw from the event to compete in the 2008 PDC World Championship. Jones had won the standby play-off at Bridlington prior to the World Masters-Statistics:- Women's Championship :...
, de Ruiter was eliminated in the first round after losing to Glenn Moody
Glenn Moody
Glenn Moody is an English darts player.Glenn had tried to qualify for the Lakeside nine times before finding success in the 2008 BDO World Darts Championship. He has been described as a "geek" by the press but he is received warmly by the crowds...
.
De Ruiter played very few tournaments in 2008 due to suffering from vertigo
Vertigo (medical)
Vertigo is a type of dizziness, where there is a feeling of motion when one is stationary. The symptoms are due to a dysfunction of the vestibular system in the inner ear...
and quit darts for three months until he came back to the game. He participated in the 2008 Grand Slam of Darts losing all three group games against James Wade
James Wade
James Wade is an English professional darts player, currently playing in the Professional Darts Corporation . He became the youngest player ever to win a major PDC title at the World Matchplay in July 2007...
, Adrian Lewis
Adrian Lewis
Adrian Lewis is an English professional darts player for the Professional Darts Corporation who is the reigning PDC World Darts Champion...
and Denis Ovens
Denis Ovens
Denis Ovens is an English darts player currently ranked number 29 in the PDC Order of Merit. He is nicknamed The Heat and is now based in Stevenage. Ovens is widely regarded as one of the most consistent players in the circuit, though he has as yet failed to convert his form from the circuit to...
, winning just one legs and included two whitewash losses to Lewis and Ovens. He then failed to qualify for the 2009 BDO World Darts Championship
2009 BDO World Darts Championship
The 2009 Lakeside World Professional Darts Championship was the 32nd World Championship organised by the British Darts Organisation. Mark Webster was the defending men's champion having won the title for the first time in last year's final against Simon Whitlock, but he was eliminated convincingly...
and also for the last 16 stage of the World Masters. He has remained inactive since.