Noppert freezes out The Magpie with hard fought win over O'Connor to reach 2022 UK Open final

Danny Noppert is into his maiden PDC major ranking final after seeing off William O'Connor in an 11-9 victory at the 2022 UK Open.

Noppert will head into the final shortly where he will face Michael Smith after a hard fought win over 'The Magpie' where he had to produce a comeback from 5-1 up to win through.

It is his second major final after reaching the World Series of Darts Finals but is his first in a major ranking tournament.

O’Connor hit a late 180 but Noppert hit double 20 for the lead. Double five was hit in response by O’Connor to level up.

He broke from there on double six and hit a second 180 followed by double 10 to go 3-1 up. O’Connor missed a shot at 138 but returned for double nine with Noppert spurning the chance to hold and it was another break as he went 4-1 up.

A 126 checkout on double six saw O’Connor go 5-1 up as he held throw. O’Connor missed 101 on double 12 for another break and Noppert stopped the rot on double three.

O’Connor couldn’t produce 130 and Noppert closed the gap with a break on double 20 to make it 5-3. He closed the gap from there as the Dutchman began to grow into the game at 5-4 down.

O’Connor stopped the rot on double nine as he headed in 6-4 up. An 86 checkout saw Noppert make it 6-5.

‘The Magpie’ busted 80 but after two missed darts at double, O’Connor finally finished what he couldn’t previously and went into a 7-5 lead.

A 52 checkout saw Noppert hold but O’Connor kept him at arm's length on double 10.

Noppert hit another 180 and with O’Connor unable to hit 152, Noppert headed into the break at 8-7 down.

O’Connor on return missed two darts at double and Noppert punished on double eight to level up at 8-8. Noppert knocked two darts out the board and continued to have issues with bounceouts, he still hit 72 to go 9-8 up.

But he held again to go 10-9 up and broke again to claim the win.