“He had tears in his eyes” - Ruthless Danny Noppert shows no mercy to emotional Van der Velde at World Darts Championship

Danny Noppert opened his 2026 PDC World Darts Championship campaign with a 3-1 win over Jurjen van der Velde, but his post-match reaction revealed far more than a straightforward opening round victory.

The Dutchman spoke candidly after the match, about key moments, confidence, crowd support, consistency, pressure, and the life-changing potential of a deep run at Alexandra Palace. “I think the key moment was the bullseye finish to go 2-1 up,” Noppert said. “I was really pleased with that moment.”

As the contest developed, his belief only continued to grow. “The longer the game went on, the more confident I became,” he said.

Asked specifically about his finishing later in the match, Noppert also pointed to another decisive moment. “Yeah, I think it was a double-double finish,” he said, referring to the 135 checkout that helped him maintain control.

Despite the quality of his performance, Noppert was careful not to overstate the result. “For myself, it wasn’t a big win,” he said. “But of course I won and I’m really happy with that.”

What mattered most was simply getting through the opening hurdle. “I’m really happy to win the first game. That’s the most important thing,” he said. “You don’t want to lose the first game. Now we’ll see what happens. Maybe it can be a good run.”

When asked whether this could finally be the year he makes a real impression at Alexandra Palace, his answer remained measured. “I think it’s possible,” he said. “Of course, I take it step by step.”

Before a dart was even thrown, the emotional tone of the match had already been set by Jurjen van der Velde’s walk-on. Noppert noticed immediately. “I saw him when we were walking on stage. He had tears in his eyes and he really enjoyed that moment,” he said. “It was very important for him.”

The moment stayed with him long after the match had finished. “After the game I asked him why he had tears, but I don’t really know,” Noppert said. “He just really enjoyed it.”

While there was empathy in his words, it did not affect his focus. Noppert later took time to underline his opponent’s potential. “He’s a big talent,” he said. “He has a Tour Card and everything. I think he can be bigger than he is now.”

Inside the arena, the crowd increasingly rallied behind Noppert, something he admitted had a powerful impact on him. “I like it,” he said. “I get goosebumps when they cheer for me. I really like that.”

That reaction mirrors a wider shift in how Noppert feels he is being perceived. “To be honest, it feels nice that more people are talking about me,” he said. “I see it on social media. I see supporters saying things like a Premier League spot. I like it.”

Crucially, he does not see that attention as pressure. “I never feel pressure. I like to play,” he said. “I really enjoy playing, whether it’s Player Championships, floor tournaments, it doesn’t matter. I enjoy it, and that’s the key for me.”

Asked why he is often one of the quieter figures on tour, Noppert offered a simple explanation. “Because my English is not really good, I think,” he said.

Even so, he acknowledged that people sense something different now. “Yeah, I think it’s a different kind of Danny,” he said. “That’s correct.”

From his own perspective, the change is about consistency rather than reinvention. “I think I’m more consistent,” he said. “A lot of people say there’s a different kind of Danny now. For myself, I didn’t change. But if you win more, you can celebrate more.”

The World Championship remains the one stage where Noppert’s results have not yet matched his consistency elsewhere. Asked directly why Alexandra Palace has not worked for him in the past, he was blunt. “I don’t know, to be honest,” he said. “If you can tell me what I have to change, then I will do it.”

What he does know is what a deep run in London can mean. “This is where you can make big steps on the ranking,” he said. “A semi-final or final here can change your life. That’s where you really move forward.”

He later returned to the same theme with even greater precision. “If I want to make steps on the ranking, then I have to reach here quarter-final or semi-final,” he said.

Noppert’s confidence heading into round two is clear. “I feel great right now,” he said. “My confidence is bigger than ever.”

He will face Justin Hood next, and Noppert confirmed he has already taken note. “From what I saw, he was really solid,” he said. “His scoring was brilliant, so that makes me more focused for that game. I know what I can expect from him now.”