Danny Noppert, known as ‘The Freeze,’ showcased nerves of steel to win a sensational 6-5 thriller against Ritchie Edhouse at the German Darts Grand Prix in Munich. This nail-biting victory propels him into the tournament’s final day, where he’s set to battle Karel Sedlacek in the Last 16. It was a match filled with twists and turns, proving Noppert’s resilience under pressure.
Noppert Kicks Off German Darts Grand Prix Journey
As a seeded player, ranked number 6, Danny Noppert entered the German Darts Grand Prix in Munich directly into the second round. His first challenge came against Ritchie Edhouse, a former European Champion, who had comfortably defeated German qualifier Kevin Troppmann 6-3 in the opening round.
A Battle of Nerves: The Match Unfolds
The match began with Noppert asserting his dominance, quickly securing the first three legs. His precision was evident with impressive finishes of 62 and 90, putting him in a strong early lead.
However, Edhouse, nicknamed ‘Madhouse,’ wasn’t one to back down. He got on the scoreboard in the fourth leg, holding his own throw in 13 darts. The next two legs also went with the throw, maintaining Noppert’s lead at 4-2.
The turning point arrived in the seventh leg when Noppert faltered, missing five crucial darts at a double. Edhouse capitalized on this, breaking Noppert’s throw with a 21-dart leg to narrow the gap to 4-3.
Noppert responded fiercely. In the eighth leg, Edhouse missed a 76-finish to level the score, allowing ‘The Freeze’ to pounce. Noppert secured his second consecutive break with a clinical 13-darter, extending his lead to 5-3 and putting him one leg away from victory.
Yet, the drama was far from over. Noppert couldn’t close out the match on his own throw. Edhouse roared back, first with an 84-finish in 11 darts to make it 5-4, and then with another 84-finish (via double 11) to incredibly force a deciding eleventh leg at 5-5.
The Deciding Leg: Noppert’s Composure Shines
With the momentum seemingly against him, Noppert had the advantage of starting the eleventh and final leg. He made it count, opening with a maximum 180 score, followed by scores of 140 and 120. Displaying remarkable composure, the top-16 player sealed the leg and the match with a decisive 13-darter.
Match Statistics at a Glance:
- Danny Noppert:
- Average: 99.41
- Double Percentage: 37.5%
- Ritchie Edhouse:
- Average: 96.78
- Double Percentage: 55.9%
What’s Next for ‘The Freeze’?
Danny Noppert will return to the oche on Monday afternoon for the highly anticipated final day of the tournament. His next opponent in the Last 16 will be Czech player Karel Sedlacek, who caused an upset by convincingly defeating Damon Heta 6-2 earlier in the day. Fans can expect another thrilling performance as Noppert vies for the German Darts Grand Prix title.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Actueel.
