Danny Noppert picked up a 4th PDC ranking title of his career on Sunday, with victory over Simon Whitlock.
The Dutchman ran out 8-3, in the final of Players Championship Two, as the opening weekend of the 2023 PDC Pro Tour season concluded at Barnsley Metrodome.
Reigning UK Open Champion, Noppert reached the final by recording a succession of victories against Dylan Slevin, Connor Scutt, Vladimir Andersen, Jamie Hughes, Callan Rydz and Brendan Dolan, to set up a clash with Whitlock.
The final began with Noppert racing into a 3-0 lead, rattling off legs in 14,18 and 19 darts respectively, before Whitlock fought back by winning back-to-back legs in a total of 29 darts. Noppert then won four of the following five legs, which saw him move 7-3 ahead and within one of victory.
‘The Freeze’ sealed the win in Leg 11 with a 15 darter to pick up the £12,000 1st prize and a hat-trick of Pro Tour titles in his PDC career.
Whitlock’s run to a first final in under five years saw him record victories over Dave Chisnall, Mario Vandenbogaerde, Rowby-John Rodriguez, Raymond Van Barneveld, Richard Veenstra and Luke Humphries, before being denied by Noppert.
Elsewhere, there were Quarter Final runs for World Number One Michael Smith and 10x Major Champion James Wade, with the likes of Nathan Aspinall, Gary Anderson and Saturday’s PC1 Winner Ryan Searle among the names to suffer early exits.
The PDC Pro Tour returns next weekend again in Barnsley with Players Championship Three & Four taking place between 18-19th February, with the 128 players competing for £100,000 in prize money each day, with play beginning at 13:00 GMT.
Play will be broadcasted across two streaming boards on PDC.TV and various bookmaker websites worldwide, with all live scores and results on tv.dartconnect.com.
Players Championship Two
Last 16
Luke Humphries 6-5 Dimitri Van den Bergh
James Wade 6-5 Dirk Van Duijvenbode
Richard Veenstra 6-4 Stephen Bunting
Simon Whitlock 6-2 Raymond Van Barneveld
Brendan Dolan 6-2 Nathan Rafferty
Michael Smith 6-3 Gabriel Clemens
Callan Rydz 6-5 Steve Lennon
Danny Noppert 6-3 Jamie Hughes
Quarter Finals
Luke Humphries 6-5 James Wade
Simon Whitlock 6-5 Richard Veenstra
Brendan Dolan 6-3 Michael Smith
Danny Noppert 6-4 Callan Rydz
Semi Finals
Simon Whitlock 7-4 Luke Humphries
Danny Noppert 7-3 Brendan Dolan
Final
Danny Noppert 8-3 Simon Whitlock
—–ENDS—–
Images: PDC
