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4 hours ago
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Danny Noppert is not a PDC major champion for no reason. The Dutchman has succeeded in just about every level of darts that he has undertaken. However, that success seems to have come in fits and starts, might it be that 'Noppy' has again reinvented himself and that it is begining to pay off once more?
Compatriot and former tour colleague Vincent van der Voort was quick to heap praise on his tungsten-tossing compatriot Danny Noppert, after The Freeze showed grit and class to recover from a shaky start and defeat Jermaine Wattimena in his World Grand Prix opener.
It was a match The Machine Gun should arguably have won, but when the heat was on, Noppert’s composure, superior ability and big-stage experience shone through.
Speaking on the latest episode of the Darts Draait Door podcast, Van der Voort didn’t hold back in his admiration:
"The match was exciting and at times very good. His doubles, which Danny is usually known for, didn’t go so well this time, but his scoring was excellent. That’s why he’s in the top 16 in the world and a UK Open Champion. He wasn’t comfortable at all after the first set - Wattimena really had him under pressure."
UK OPEN DARTS 2022: Danny Noppert's last leg
But after an early stumble, Noppert found his feet and began to gather pace: "He was walking a tightrope, but he fought his way back," added Van der Voort. "He’s a very tough player and managed to drag himself over the line. That was a superb victory because it really didn’t come easy. It shows exactly why he’s been among the world’s top 16 for so long. Many players would have lost a match like that after such a poor start."
The defining moment came when Noppert sealed victory with a brilliant 158 checkout - punctuated by a rare roar of celebration. Smiling, Van der Voort added: "That’s something new from Danny. He’s showing a bit more emotion now, a bit more aggression. I thought he was brilliant. It was a fantastic win, and that’s what separates the elite from the rest. Noppert’s been doing this for years - he’s always there when it matters."
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Given Van der Voort’s reputation for brutal honesty, it’s safe to say Noppie will be more than happy with this glowing review from one of darts’ straightest talkers, especially after he repeated the trick last night, again coming from an early set down, but this time against two-time World champion and an icon of the game Gary Anderson.
The Darts World resident coach also commented that Noppert "...without wishing to be mean spirited - had seemed to grow a personality overnight. Previously he has seemed more of the introverted, highly focused player with few frills to either like or dislike. yet, all of a sudden he is smiling more, getting aggressive occasionally and generally appearing more open".
DANNY NOPPERT IN FACTS AND FIGURES: Check out The FREEZE's full career profile on dartsdatabase.co.uk
Will the real Danny Noppert stand up and perhaps go on to claim a second major title this weekend?
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