Dutch giant 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 in his World Grand Prix campaign.
It was a match The Freeze arguably shouldn’t 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. He wasn’t comfortable at all after the first set – Wattimena really had him under pressure.”
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.”
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.
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Images: Simon O’Connor / PDC
