"That I threw so poorly was definitely down to him too" - Danny Noppert laments Mickey Mansell missed opportunity at Grand Slam of Darts

Danny Noppert failed to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Grand Slam of Darts. 'The Freeze' went down 10-7 against Mickey Mansell in the eighth finals.

Noppert, who doesn't throw too fast himself, couldn't get into his rhythm against the slow Mansell. The crowd was barely audible during the match and seemed to be lulled to sleep. What followed was a match in which Noppert was visibly annoyed but could not reverse the negative spiral.

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"It was a little sloppy from me, especially after the first break," Noppert told Viaplay. "After that I was behind. He (Mansell, ed.) was throwing very strong, so credits to him. But it was also definitely down to him that I was throwing so badly. I just could not get into my game and rhythm. But as Michael van Gerwen also always says: I can only blame myself."

Danny Noppert in action at the Grand Slam of Darts

Good feeling

Noppert had started the knockout phase of the tournament with a good feeling after he managed to finish his three group matches. But against Mansell it just did not work out and so Noppert has to leave the Grand Slam of Darts in the last sixteen, just like in 2016, 2022 and 2023.

"This match I found very difficult, but I also find that mostly sloppy of myself," said the 33-year-old Dutchman. "I go into the game of him. Yes ... then it's the end of practice. In the beginning I was throwing 113 average. If I had continued that, I would have just won easily."