Francisca Hoenselaar (born 15 January 1965) is a Dutch former professional darts player. She was nicknamed "The Dutch Crown". A leading player in the women's game, Hoenselaar was the 2009 British Darts Organisation Women's World Darts Champion, having defeated Trina Gulliver in the final. Prior to this, she had been runner-up no fewer than five times – each time losing to Gulliver.

Francis Hoenselaar
Hoenselaar in 2006
Personal information
Nickname"The Dutch Crown"
Born (1965-01-15) 15 January 1965 (age 59)
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Home townRotterdam, Netherlands
Darts information
Playing darts since1990
DartsDatadart
LateralityLeft-handed
Walk-on music"Zomer" by André Hazes
Organisation (see split in darts)
BDO1994–2012
WDF major events – best performances
World Ch'shipWinner (1) 2009
World MastersWinner (3) 1999, 2006, 2008
World TrophyWinner (1) 2004
Finder MastersWinner (1) 1995[1]
Dutch OpenWinner (7) 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004
PDC premier events – best performances
Grand SlamGroup Stages: 2009
Other tournament wins
TournamentYears
WDF World Cup
WDF Europe Cup
WDF World Cup Pairs
WDF Europe Cup Pairs
Antwerp Open


BDO International Open
Belgium Open

British Open
Canadian Open
Center Parcs Masters
Denmark Open
England Open
Finnish Open
French Open
German Open
Isle of Man Open
Northern Ireland Open
Norway Open
Spring Cup
Swedish Open
Swiss Open

Tops of Holland
Welsh Classic
Welsh Open
2001
1996, 2004, 2010
1993, 2001
2000, 2002
1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2001,
2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007,
2011

2008
1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2007
1995, 1997, 2003
1997
2010
1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2007
1999, 2005
1997, 1998, 2003, 2005
1996, 1997, 1998, 2006
1996, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004
1999, 2000, 2005, 2012
2008
1995, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2006
1991, 1994, 2001, 2002
1996, 2001
1994, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005
2009
2007, 2008
1998

Career

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A Netherlands native, Hoenselaar has won the Dutch title fifteen times. She first represented the Netherlands at the WDF World Cup in 1991. She won the Europe Cup women's singles in 1996, 2004 and 2010, and the World Cup women's singles in 2001. She aimed to retire from the Dutch team after the 2011 World Cup.[2]

Gulliver has long been her main rival, and got the better of her in five World Championship finals (2002, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007). Indeed, Gulliver was unbeaten at the Women's World Championship until 2008. Hoenselaar entered the 2008 World Championship as the number one seed, but lost in the first round to qualifier Stephanie Smee.

Hoenselaar won the World Masters in 1999, and again in 2006. She defeated Anastasia Dobromyslova to win her third World Masters title in 2008, in what was Dobromyslova's final tournament before her defection to the Professional Darts Corporation.

In 2009, Hoenselaar finally won the Women's World Championship, beating Gulliver in the final to record her first World Championship title, and a winner's cheque of £6,000. This earned her a spot at the 2009 Grand Slam of Darts,[3] and was drawn in Group D with Raymond van Barneveld, John Part and Kevin Painter.[4] Hoenselaar won four legs over her three matches, as she bowed out in the group stages.

Hoenselaar was unseeded for the 2010 Women's World Championship and was drawn against Gulliver once more in the first round. Gulliver won by 2 sets to 0, and she went on to win her eighth world title. Hoenselaar failed to qualify for the 2011 and 2012 Women's World Championships.

In August 2014, despite not playing in any tournament since the 2012 Women's Isle Of Man Open for which she won. Hoenselaar announced her retirement from the game due to persistent injuries.[5]

World Championship results

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  • 2001: Semi Finals (lost to Mandy Solomons 1-2)
  • 2002: Runner Up (lost to Trina Gulliver 1-2)
  • 2003: Semi Finals (lost to Anne Kirk 0-2)
  • 2004: Runner Up (lost to Trina Gulliver 0–2)
  • 2005: Runner Up (lost to Trina Gulliver 0–2)
  • 2006: Runner Up (lost to Trina Gulliver 0–2)
  • 2007: Runner Up (lost to Trina Gulliver 1–2)
  • 2008: Quarter Finals (lost to Stephanie Smee 0–2)
  • 2009: Winner (beat Trina Gulliver 2-1)
  • 2010: Quarter Finals (lost to Trina Gulliver 0–2)

References

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  1. ^ "Story about winning the Dutch Grand Masters in Dutch (1995)". Dart Club Arrows Terneuzen. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  2. ^ "Last World Cup for the Dutch Crown!". World Darts Federation. 15 August 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  3. ^ "Grand Slam Qualification News". pdc.tv. Professional Darts Corporation. 12 June 2009. Retrieved 19 November 2009.
  4. ^ "Grand Slam of Darts Draw". pdc.tv. Professional Darts Corporation. 8 November 2009. Retrieved 19 November 2009.
  5. ^ "Francis Hoenselaar retires". BDO News. Archived from the original on 8 October 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
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Awards
Preceded by Rotterdam Sportswoman of the Year
1996–1997
Succeeded by