Danny Noppert

Danny Noppert claims his maiden PDC title at Players Championship 20 in Dublin

By Sporting Life

20:03 · SAT September 29, 2018

Danny Noppert became the latest player to win their maiden PDC title this season as he defeated Ian White 6-4 in the final of Players Championship 20.

There was also a third nine-darter of the weekend in Dublin, following on from the two which were made during Saturday's Players Championship 19 event.

Despite Michael van Gerwen scooping up 16 titles and Gary Anderson claiming three of the big TV majors, 2018 will very much be remembered as a season of new winners.

Noppert joins Max Hopp, Jeffrey de Zwaan, Nathan Aspinall, Mickey Mansell, Krzysztof Ratajski and Corey Cadby in entering the winners enclosure for the first time while Jonny Clayton, Ian White and Gerwyn Price have also enjoyed their first taste of European Tour glory this season.

Playing in his first final, the Dutchman produced a strong performance to see off experienced campaigner White who was competing in his 25th PDC final as both players bounced back from first round exits in Friday's Players Championship 19.

Dutch star Noppert produced a 104.7 average in his semi-final win over World Champion Rob Cross, and also defeated Gary Eastwood, Mark Dudbridge, Davy van Baelen, Ricky Evans and Chris Quantock en route to clinching the £10,000 top prize.

Noppert, who will face Gerwyn Price on his World Grand Prix debut on Monday night, told www.pdc.tv: "Every time I play I believe I can do it and today I have done it.

"I'm really happy with my performance today, I'm always working to get my level higher. It's all about believing in yourself which I do and now I'm looking forward to playing in the World Grand Prix.

"Everything is new for me, I'm only looking forward and I'm going to enjoy every event I play in."

It was a strong start to the final from Noppert, who showed no sign of nerves as he raced into a 2-0 lead thanks to a 15-dart leg and an 88 finish.

White, who was in search of a fourth title of the year, broke straight back only for Noppert to do the same and restore his two-leg advantage.

Noppert tidied up 56 in two darts to move within a leg of the title before White checked out 72 under pressure to keep the tie alive and then broke the Dutchman's throw with a 120 checkout.

However, it was to be Noppert's day as he took out 75 to secure the biggest win of his career.

White survived a match-dart in his opening game against Jimmy Hendriks before dropping just eight legs in his next five matches against Nathan Aspinall, Kyle Anderson, Ron Meulenkamp, Mensur Suljovic and Keegan Brown to reach the final.

Earlier in the day Peter Hudson hit the third nine-dart finish of the ProTour weekend in his first round clash with Daryl Gurney, a leg after the Northern Irishman missed double 12 for a perfect leg of his own.

Elsewhere, world number one Michael van Gerwen suffered a first round exit at the hands of Martin Schindler, while Peter Wright was defeated by Robert Owen in the second round.