Noppert continues his remarkable runs in finals to win Players Championship 8.

Danny Noppert defeated World Champion Luke Humphries 8-6 to win Players Championship 8 in Leicester, claiming his fifth ProTour title.

The Dutchman continued his fantastic record of never losing a Players Championship final in five attempts, defeating world number one Humphries.

With little to separate the two in the final, Noppert’s stronger finishing helped him win the title, landing 47% of his tries compared to Humphries’ 35%.

Humphries started the final strongly, racing out to a 2-0 lead before Noppert hammered a 126 checkout to put his first leg on the board.

Noppert then moved ahead 4-3 after to a fantastic spell, but Humphries levelled with a magnificent 128 checkout.

However, the world number one was doing the chasing as Noppert came closer to the title, which he sealed with a 64 checkout on double ten.

Noppert surged up the PDC rankings after winning his first and only major TV event, the 2022 UK Open.

The world number 12 went on to win two more Players Championship titles in 2023, and in addition to sustaining his impressive run in the finals, he is now looking for more significant success this year.

After Chris Dobey won the ProTour title on Monday, Noppert’s victory brings the total number of Players Championship winners in 2024 to eight.

The Dutchman began his winning streak with a straightforward 6-3 triumph over Robert Owen, followed by his best performance of the day, a 106.63 average in a 6-3 victory over Jim Williams.

Noppert then escaped a scare in a 6-5 win over Stephen Burton to go to the Last 16, when he defeated Gerwyn Price 6-3 and then Kevin Doets by the same scoreline.

And in the semi-finals, the 33-year-old defeated Poland’s Radek Szaganski 7-2 to advance to the final.

Humphries began his run in Leicester with a 6-3 victory over Germany’s Paul Krohne, before averaging 107 and 106 in wins over Jeffrey De Zwaan (6-1) and Brendan Dolan (6-5).

The World Champion had a day of close triumphs, ending Dobey’s winning streak 6-5 before defeating Gary Anderson 6-4 in the quarterfinals and Gian van Veen 7-6 in the final four.

Noppert Reaction to Winning Players Championship 8 

 

“Both were struggling in the final but I am so happy to get over the line,” expressed an elated Noppert.

“Yesterday my performance was not so good but today I was there at the right moments.

“There were some crazy games today but I am really proud of myself for taking it over the line.”

“I am speechless, but I am always fighting in finals,” said Noppert.

“Last week I played Luke and he beat me really hard. Today I got revenge and it is a really good feeling.

“Two years ago I was a UK Open winner and this year I am really going for it, I hope I can take another big title.”

2024 Players Championship 8 Results 

Tuesday April 9

Last 16

Luke Humphries 6-5 Chris Dobey

Gary Anderson 6-2 Danny van Tripp

Stefan Bellmont 6-5 Rob Cross

Gian van Veen 6-3 Josh Rock

Radek Szaganski 6-4 Ricky Evans

Andrew Gilding 6-4 Jonny Clayton

Kevin Doets 6-5 Daryl Gurney

Danny Noppert 6-3 Gerwyn Price

Quarter-Finals

Luke Humphries 6-4 Gary Anderson

Gian van Veen 6-5 Stefan Bellmont

Radek Szaganski 6-5 Andrew Gilding

Danny Noppert 6-3 Kevin Doets

Semi-Finals

Luke Humphries 7-6 Gian van Veen

Danny Noppert 7-2 Radek Szaganski

Final

Danny Noppert 8-6 Luke Humphries