Danny Noppert completes a Dutch double at the World Grand Prix
Danny Noppert completed a Dutch double at the World Grand Prix in Leicester with victory over Vincent Van Der Voort – having already eliminated his best friend Michael Van Gerwen.
Noppert saw off his second compatriot in three days with a straight-sets win to set up his first appearance in a quarter-final, where he will meet Ian White after he fought back from two sets down to beat Lithuanian debutant Darius Labanauskas.
Van Der Voort was never ahead from the moment Noppert, who had a 130 checkout, levelled things up in the fourth leg of the first set.
𝗡𝗢𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗧 𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗦!
Another brilliant Danny Noppert performance as he again despatches a fellow Dutchman!
'The Freeze' defeats Vincent van der Voort in straight sets!
📺 𝙇𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙪𝙥 👉 Jose de Sousa v Jonny Clayton pic.twitter.com/yHkrmmg5w3
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) October 6, 2021
“I won against two players who, when I was a kid I was watching them, and now I beat them so I’m really happy,” he told Sky Sports.
“Defeat for me last year was not good because on the floor I was not confident but I (now) have the confidence.
“My girlfriend is pregnant and we have a baby in February so I’m a very happy man.”
𝗪𝗛𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗧𝗘𝗦 𝗔𝗡 𝗘𝗣𝗜𝗖 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞
Look at that reaction! 🤩
Ian White comes from two sets down to clinch a deciding leg victory over Darius Labanauskas!
📺 𝙐𝙥 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 👉 Rob Cross v Krzysztof Ratajski pic.twitter.com/LoFgl33yj6
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) October 6, 2021
By contrast White, from Stoke, was staring at an exit after losing the first six legs without reply but a 14-darter finally got him on the board at the start of the third set.
However, he was made to work hard for his 3-2 victory, winning eight of the next 11 legs as the match went right down to the wire.
World Matchplay semi-finalist Krzysztof Ratajski also got off to a flying start in his match against former world champion Rob Cross.
𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗔𝗝𝗦𝗞𝗜 𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦
A sensational performance from Krzysztof Ratajski there who seals his spot in the Last 8 with a 3-1 success over Rob Cross!
📺 𝙐𝙥 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 👉 Danny Noppert v Vincent van der Voort pic.twitter.com/pVRLaW5s6c
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) October 6, 2021
The Pole also won the first set without losing a leg, and eventually went on to close out a 3-1 victory with a 14-dart finish culminating on double four.
That set up a meeting with Welshman Jonny Clayton, who produced a superb display in the final match of the night to dump out seventh seed Jose De Sousa 3-1
“I’m happy with that. I lost the first set – he’s a class player – and had to dig deep,” he told Sky Sports.
“I kept my nerve and got over the finishing line.”