"I said I’d prefer not to play a Dutchman": Noppert and Van der Velde left lamenting World Darts Championship draw

The draw for the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship has been made – and it has immediately thrown up an all-Dutch clash in round one. Danny Noppert and Jurjen van der Velde, have been paired together, much to the mixed feelings of both players.

Speaking to Viaplay on Friday evening, Noppert appeared relaxed despite drawing a compatriot he had hoped to avoid. The 33-year-old admitted he had only one wish going into the draw. “Beforehand I said I’d prefer not to play a Dutchman,” laughed The Freeze. “And then I end up getting another Frisian! There are only two of us from Friesland in the tournament and somehow we’ve drawn each other. It’s pretty special.”

Noppert’s form in recent months has been undeniable, and he is fully aware of his strong momentum. “I’m in good shape. I’ve had some strong results lately, so I’m definitely satisfied,” he said. Yet he plays down the idea that he has reinvented himself, despite analysts branding him ‘Danny Noppert 2.0’. “Maybe it’s happened naturally, but from my perspective nothing has really changed.”

On facing Van der Velde, Noppert admitted it wasn’t the matchup he would have chosen, but insisted he is far from concerned. “I play enough matches throughout the year, so I’m not worried. But of course I might have preferred someone I know a little less well. I know Jurjen very well,” he said. The two Frisians rarely cross paths competitively. “I haven’t played league darts for a while, so we actually haven’t met that often.”

As for Ally Pally itself, the World Championship has never been Noppert’s happiest hunting ground, but he heads to London with renewed belief. “If I can maintain this level, there should be a quarter-final in me one day – maybe even more,” he said with determination. “But I’ll take it match by match.”

Van der Velde also acknowledged the unusual nature of the draw. “There are only two Frisians in the field, and then we end up against each other,” the 21-year-old said with a grin. Asked who currently holds the title of ‘best Frisian’, he was honest: “I have to admit Danny is the best right now.”

Still, he hasn’t ruled out causing an upset. “Who knows? It’s my first time on that stage. We’ll see,” he added, hopeful but grounded.

The past year has marked significant progress for Van der Velde in his developing career. His heartbreaking defeat in the final of last year’s JDC World Youth Championship – where he missed five match darts before seeing Gian van Veen lift the trophy – nonetheless earned him a debut at the Grand Slam of Darts. That taste of the big stage left him wanting more. “I really enjoyed it,” he said. “That final against Gian made me a better player.”

Without boasting, he listed the milestones he has reached along the way. “Winning on the Development Tour, then the Challenge Tour, then MODUS… that got me into the Grand Slam. I just had to wait eleven months for it,” he joked. The long wait only made the experience more meaningful. “It was really valuable for me. And now it’s almost time for London.”

As for nerves ahead of playing Noppert, Van der Velde brushed the idea aside. And any thoughts of mind games? Absolutely not. “No, I’m not that kind of player,” he said firmly. “I’m just going to try to play my best game, and then we’ll see what happens.”