Dutch Darts Star Feels the Heat from World's Top Two
Danny Noppert has candidly described the immense challenge posed by the world's top two darts players, Luke Littler and Luke Humphries, labelling their dominance as a form of 'bullying' after a series of high-profile defeats. The Dutchman made these revealing comments following his own successful start at the Players Championship Finals in Minehead.
A Successful Year Overshadowed by the 'Lukes'
Noppert secured a convincing 6-2 victory over Ricky Evans on Friday, 21st November 2025, marking a strong opening to the tournament. Despite this win and what he considers his steadiest and best year on the professional circuit, the 34-year-old pinpointed one significant hurdle.
"I think this is my best year so far - I feel really steady right now," Noppert told Ladbrokes. "The only problem is the Lukes [Littler and Humphries]... they are bullying me!"
His frustration is rooted in recent history. Just last week, Noppert was defeated 16-9 by Luke Littler in the semi-final of the Grand Slam of Darts. This loss came less than a month after an 8-11 defeat to Luke Humphries in the European Championships semi-final.
Noppert's Minehead Mission and Surprising Ally
Reflecting on his first-round performance, Noppert was pleased, especially with an unexpected high average. "It was cold up on the stage though; I didn't expect the 104 average," he said. "My trebles were going well and I'm really happy with my performance today."
With both Littler and Humphries also competing in Minehead, where Noppert reached the semi-finals last year, the Dutchman remains a dedicated student of the game. "As long as I'm still in a competition, I'll watch the other matches as much as I can, because I'm still a darts fan," he stated.
However, he revealed a clear favourite should his own title hopes end. "If it's not me winning the tournament this weekend, I'd want Luke Littler to win," Noppert admitted. "He's above me [in the PDC Order of Merit], so it doesn't matter if he wins it!"
Noppert now looks ahead to his big match on Saturday, hoping to continue his run in a tournament he values as highly as any other, stating his desire to win "every tournament" he enters.
