"When I play my A-game, my best game, I think I can beat him" - Niels Zonneveld relishing opportunity to play former world champion in second round

Niels Zonneveld was brimming with confidence after his 3-0 victory over Haupai Puha in the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship. He is now looking forward to taking on Michael Smith in the next round.

The first two sets proved to be very tight, with Tripple Z finding the goods at the right time to head into a 2-0 lead. He then turned up the heat in the third, taking out a stunning 158 checkout enroute to a rampant victory, something that he has not had the taste of much in the PDC World Darts Championship.

"Of course I'm really relieved. I think it was a tough match before going on, but in the end I think I was the better player," he told Dartsnews.com in his press conference after the match. "The first two sets really helped me to win the match — two deciders — so I'm really happy. And in the third set I was really relaxed, and then you see what I can do, so it's good for now."

It may come as a surprise that this is only his second win on the Ally Pally stage, something that means a lot to him. "Really much, because every time you come here you think, 'Yeah, I've only won one match,' and now it's two. It was pretty decent, especially the third set. For now it's fine, but I think it will have to be a little bit better in the second round against Michael Smith."

A 13, 12 and 14 darter from Zonneveld wrapped up the match in scintillating style. He averaged over 115 in that third set to blow Puha away. He linked it to being relaxed on stage. "It just confirms for me that when I relax, I'm playing really well," he admitted. "The first two sets I was a little bit nervous, but in the end it was really good. So if I can keep that form, I think it will be really tough for my opponent to beat me."

It is a very tough test in the second round, with Smith next in the offering for the Dutchman. The 2023 world champion struggled at first against Lisa Ashton in the opening night of comeptition but eventually got in his flow, comfortably winning 3-0.

"It's a great match. He's a former world champion. I'm really looking forward to it. I’ve got a week off now — going home tonight — so six days off and then coming back here. I'm really looking forward to it," Zonneveld stated.

Even with the possible handicap of 'Bully Boy's' injuries, Zonneveld believes no advantage will come from that. "No, I don't think so. I think he's one of the greatest players in the world, so I'm not thinking like that. I thought he was getting better. At the moment I just think it’s a really hard game to beat him, but yeah — I'm doing everything I can."

"I'm expecting his best," he continued. "I think he's a really good player, and I'm focusing on myself. When I play my A-game, my best game, I think I can beat him. But if he plays his A-game, I don’t know, because he’s a really good player. I don't know what to expect, but I have to focus on myself and start from there."

It has been a solid year on tour for the 27-year-old, who is looking to cap it off with a bang in North London. "I don't think so, but I have to give myself a present. At the Players Championship Finals I didn’t, but at the same time I thought, 'At the Worlds, that's ten times bigger,' so you have to win the first round there and then you give yourself a reward," he commented. "That's what I did now, so I'm really relieved."

There have been times where his A-game has been on show. If he can unlock it, then he will be a very tough darter to defeat."I think really far, because I've been doing some good stuff this year on the Pro Tour. But you have to do it on this stage, and it's not easy. Like I said, the first two sets were really nervous; the third set was OK — really good, to be honest. But it’s not easy, so I have to prepare myself for the second round."

To sharpen and refine his game, Zonneveld has turned to Vincent van der Voort's brother as they look to get into the perfect shape for the World Championship. "We've been working on experience. I can play darts — really good darts — everyone can, I think, in the Pro Tour season. But you have to do it on stage and when it matters, and that was the focus we had. I think we’ve made some good steps, and he was here as well, so it’s a really good cooperation," he concluded.