Noppert beaming after becoming father for first time and reaching UK Open Quarter-Finals: "That makes me walk around with a smile"

Danny Noppert has qualified for the quarterfinals of the UK Open for the first time in his career. The Freeze beat his fellow countryman Dirk van Duijvenbode 10-2 in the sixth round and will now face Damon Heta.

Noppert was beaming afterwards in conversation with Dartsnieuws.com. "I certainly didn't expect such a big win. Dirk is a very good player, but I was throwing very well myself. It is always special to play against a fellow countryman, you know him better than most foreign players.

The 31-year-old Dutchman was close to a nine-darter in his previous match against Devon Petersen. "I threw seven perfect arrows in the triple twenty, but my eighth arrow on triple nineteen fell out. That was a real bummer.

Noppert used to struggle on TV tournaments, but last year he reached the semi-finals at the World Grand Prix and the quarter-finals at the European Championships. So now he is in the quarter-finals at this UK Open too.

"I play with a lot of confidence, that certainly helps. Furthermore, there are also some changes in my private life, now that I became a father for the first time, that makes me walk around with a smile."