Defending champion Stephen Bunting out as Danny Noppert's remarkable Winmau World Masters run continues
PDC
Danny Noppert has cleverly advanced to the semifinals at the Winmau World Masters. 'The Freeze' won 4-3 Sunday afternoon in the semifinals over Stephen Bunting, who was the best in Milton Keynes last year.
Although Bunting was slightly stronger scoring wise as Noppert more than made up that difference on the doubles. He had a finishing percentage of 50 percent (10/20), while Bunting had a finishing percentage of only 27 percent (7/26).
The first set was won 2-1 by Bunting, who fired a 10-darter to clinch the set. Set two went 2-0 to Noppert, who unlike Bunting managed to hit doubles in both legs.
Bunting then missed two chances to take the lead in set three before Noppert took the lead via double 18. He then hit 98 to move to 2-1 in sets. Noppert then punished four misses by Bunting with an 80 finish in the first leg of the fourth set. A 72 check-out then made it 3-1 for Noppert.
The tension was then restored by Bunting, who took the fifth set 2-0 with a 14-darter and a 15-darter. With two 13-darters the sixth set also went to the Englishman, who levelled the score.
Noppert had the advantage of starting the last leg and was then neatly out in thirteen arrows to win the first leg. Bunting forced a sudden-death leg by hitting an 82 finish to make it 1-1. In the last leg, Noppert was the first to go in for the win, but missed his first matchdart on double 16. Bunting had the chance from 41, but could not take advantage of his two matchdarts. Noppert then hit his second matchdart.
It is the seventh time for Noppert that he has reached the last four at a ranking major at the PDC. Only at the UK Open in 2022 did 'The Freeze' reach the final and then he also took the title immediately. To reach another major final, Noppert will have to face world number one Luke Humphries in the semifinals.
NOPPERT SURVIVES TO BEAT BUNTING 😬
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) February 2, 2025
That was so tense... An incredible comeback from Stephen Bunting forced the deciding leg, but Noppert survives to sneak into the Semi-Finals!
📺 https://t.co/MihfqStAVW#WWMasters pic.twitter.com/RUKJUG6I22
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