"There is more in the tank" - Danny Noppert bolstered by Euro Tour final in Hungary with wins over Littler and Van Gerwen

Danny Noppert showed in Budapest that he is still among the most consistent and dangerous darters on the circuit. Although the final of the Hungarian Darts Trophy just slipped through his fingers after a nerve-wracking 8-7 defeat to Niko Springer, the Dutchman can look back on an impressive weekend in which he once again put himself on the European darts map.

The tournament began for Noppert with a cracker against Rob Owen. The Dutchman had to go deep and even survived a matchdart to keep his tournament alive. That escape actually seemed to give him wings, as a series of top performances followed.

A titanic battle immediately awaited on the final day against none other than Michael van Gerwen, the winner of the Hungarian Darts Trophy in 2024. Noppert showed his fighting spirit and class by beating his compatriot, deciding an early clash in his favour.

The victory over Van Gerwen gave Noppert visible confidence, and he showed that again in the quarterfinals. Against Chris Dobey, who recorded an average of 104, 'The Freeze' stayed cool and took the win. In doing so, he once again proved his ability to upset players in top form.

The absolute highlight of his weekend followed in the semifinals, where he faced young world champion Luke Littler. Noppert let his experience speak for itself, stayed consistent and posted a masterful 132 finish en route to a 7-3 victory. With that, he qualified for his first European Tour final since 2022 - a clear confirmation that he is back at the top all the way.

In the final against Springer, Noppert initially seemed to be in control. He took a 4-2 lead and played solid, but the young German showed resilience and fought his way back into the match. In the end, like several times this tournament, it came down to a decisive last leg. Springer produced a strong 14-darter and took his first Euro Tour title, while Noppert was left empty-handed.

Afterwards, the Dutchman showed sportsmanship in his reaction. “I’m really proud of myself, I played a good weekend and I think there is more in the tank,” said Noppert. “I think he deserved it in the end. He played a good last leg. I was really fighting the whole weekend and I want to thank the whole crowd. They have given me more power for the rest of the season, thank you Hungary.”

Despite the missed silverware, Noppert can look back on a successful weekend. His victories over world leaders such as Van Gerwen, Dobey and Littler show that he is in excellent form. The Dutchman, who in recent years has steadily cemented his place in the worlds top 16, proved once again that he can deliver on the big moments.

For Noppert, the final place is also an important boost ahead of the busy months to come. With the World Grand Prix and later the World Darts Championship ahead, the former major winner has shown that he is not only competing, but also has a serious claim to major titles.