Noppert claims second ranking title of 2023 at Players Championship 22

With a thrilling victory over fellow countryman Christian Kist in Wednesday’s Players Championship 22, Danny Noppert increased his trophy collection in 2023.

Noppert triumphed in an all-Dutch final against Kist, who, despite lacking a Tour Card, came agonisingly close to winning his first PDC ranking title.

But at the Barnsley Metrodome, the former UK Open champion overcame a 6-4 deficit to win the £12,000 first-place prize, throwing up a magnificent 11-darter to cap the comeback with an 8-7 victory.

The first five legs of Wednesday’s championship match went with throw, but in leg six Noppert struck first, converting a 121 checkout on the bull to increase his advantage to 4-2.

Kist changed the course of the game and then produced his own magnificent bullseye finish in leg 10, winning his fourth straight leg with a 122 finish to go within two legs of a historic victory.

To take back control at 7-6, Noppert responded with a three-leg run of his own. However, Kist, a former Lakeside Champion, was granted a respite in leg 14 when Noppert passed up three darts for the victory.

Kist took advantage to set up an exciting last-leg shoot-out, but Noppert surged to triumph in spectacular fashion, capping off a fantastic campaign with his fourth maximum and an 11-darter hold on tops.

“I am so relieved to get over the line. What a day it was,” reflected Noppert, who has won all four Players Championship finals he has featured in.

“It was really tough against Christian. His scoring was better than mine, so I had to fight for this game.

“These events are really hard. There are so many good players and I won, so that makes me really proud.”

Noppert will take on 2020 champion Gerwyn Price in his BoyleSports World Grand Prix opener next week, and this victory provides him with a much-needed confidence boost ahead of the double-start showpiece.

“Gerwyn is such a good player,” continued Noppert, a semi-finalist at the World Grand Prix in 2021.

“It’s a really tough draw and I need to play my A-game, but now I’ve won this tournament, it gives me a good feeling.

“I just want to perform well. I see every game step-by-step, and hopefully I will do well at the World Grand Prix, so I can make some steps towards the world’s top eight.”

On his path to victory in Barnsley, the Dutch number two defeated three PDC TV champions. After destroying Alan Soutar in the first round, he averaged 101 to defeat Lee Evans, who put up a fight.

Noppert next defeated Masters champion Chris Dobey to go to the round of 16, when he overcame deficits of 3-0 and 5-3 to defeat Steve Lennon in a match in which both players averaged 103.

The world number nine kept up his momentum by defeating James Wade in the quarterfinals and then thrashing World Champion Michael Smith 7-1 with a 102 average in the semifinals.

 

2023 Players Championship 22

Wednesday September 27

Barnsley Metrodome

Last 16

Damon Heta 6-4 Nathan Aspinall

Raymond van Barneveld 6-5 Dimitri Van den Bergh

Christian Kist 6-4 Stephen Bunting

Kevin Doets 6-4 Michael van Gerwen

James Wade 6-5 Jules van Dongen

Danny Noppert 6-5 Steve Lennon

Gary Anderson 6-0 Ricardo Pietreczko

Michael Smith 6-5 Ian White

 

Quarter-Finals

Damon Heta 6-5 Raymond van Barneveld

Christian Kist 6-4 Kevin Doets

Danny Noppert 6-4 James Wade

Michael Smith 6-5 Gary Anderson

 

Semi-Finals

Christian Kist 7-2 Damon Heta

Danny Noppert 7-1 Michael Smith

 

Final

Danny Noppert 8-7 Christian Kist