Wynand Havenga

{{Infobox darts player

| image =

| name = Wynand Havenga

| fullname =

| nickname = "Springbok"

| birth_date = {{nowrap|{{birth date|1965|9|6|df=y}}}}

| birth_place = Parow, South Africa

| death_date = {{nowrap|{{death date and age|2025|1|10|1965|9|6|df=y}}}}

| death_place =

| hometown = Cape Town, South Africa

| since = 1986

| darts = 19 Gram Harrows

| laterality = Right-handed

| music = "Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns N' Roses

| BDO = 1999–2005

| PDC = 2006–2009

| currentrank =

| BDO World =

| World Masters =

| World Darts Trophy =

| Int. Darts League =

| PDC World = Last 16: 2007

| Matchplay =

| Grand Prix =

| UK Open =

| Vegas =

| Premier League =

| US Open =

| tournament = Emperors Palace South African Open

| resultyears = 2006

| updated =

}}

Wynand Havenga (6 September 1965 – 10 January 2025) was a South African professional darts player.

Career

Havenga made his television debut at the 2007 PDC World Darts Championship as a qualifier, having beaten almost 100 players to win the South African Masters and thus earn his place at the Circus Tavern.[http://www.planetdarts.tv/page/WorldChampsDetail/0,,10180~905497,00.html "Happy Havenga Wins South African Masters"], Professional Darts Corporation, retrieved 22 December 2007. He beat Steve Maish in the first round and then conquered established pro Peter Manley in round two, but bowed out in the last 16 to Darren Webster. Havenga became a popular figure during the World Championship, his unique celebrations while winning a leg, or even hitting a 180, led comparisons to Cliff Lazarenko and a fan-base, who call themselves the "Havenga Boys".[http://www.unicorn-darts.com/team/WynandHavenga.asp Wynand Havenga in Team Unicorn], retrieved 22 December 2007. However, he struggled with a shoulder injury and his ranking fell to 500, after the £8,500 he earned at Circus Tavern was wiped off in 2009 due to the two-year-cyclical rule of the PDC Order of Merit.

Personal life and death

Outside darts, he was a business manager for a motor dealer.{{cn|date=January 2025}}

Havenga died on 10 January 2025, at the age of 59. The Professional Darts Corporation, as well as fellow South African darts players Devon Petersen and Graham Filby paid tribute to him following his death.{{cite web |last1=Allen |first1=Dave |title=South Africa's first World Championship representative Havenga passes away |url=https://www.pdc.tv/news/2025/01/10/south-africas-first-world-championship-representative-havenga-passes-away |website=Professional Darts Corporation |access-date=10 January 2025 |date=10 January 2025}}

World Championship results

=PDC=

2007: Third round (lost to Darren Webster 2–4) (sets)

References

External links

[http://www.DartsDatabase.co.uk/PlayerDetails.aspx?playerKey=1377 Profile and stats on Darts Database]

Category:1965 births

Category:2025 deaths

Category:South African darts players

Category:Professional Darts Corporation associate players

Category:Sportspeople from Cape Town