Danny Noppert is hoping to utilise his stellar 2025 campaign to break new ground at the Paddy Power World Darts Championship.
Noppert will make his eighth appearance at Alexandra Palace in December with a career-high seeding of world number six, following a strong year on the PDC circuit.
The Dutch number two has been one of darts’ most consistent performers in 2025, becoming one of only four players to make four Premier semi-finals in the calendar year.
Runs to the last four at the World Masters, World Grand Prix, European Championship and Grand Slam of Darts have signified that Noppert is a darting force to be reckoned with, and he doesn’t plan to stop for the World Championship.
“I'm really confident and I like to play on stage,” said Noppert, who has won his opening-round match at every Premier tournament this year.
“I'm pleased with what I’m doing the last couple of months. Now I have to go a step further than the semi-finals.
“I play a little bit quicker now, and if my first dart goes in then my other two are easier to follow.
“The way I’m performing, I think I can win against anyone. I always think positively.”
Despite winning the 2022 UK Open and reaching the semi-finals of ten Premier televised ranking events across his career, the Dutchman has never progressed beyond Round Three at Alexandra Palace.
Noppert has also failed to win a game on the sport's biggest stage since the 2022/23 edition of the tournament, suffering defeat to Scott Williams in 2023/24 and Ryan Joyce last year.
“So far, the World Championship has not been a good tournament for me,” admitted Noppert, who has recorded five wins in his seven appearances at the competition.
“I don’t know why but at the World Championship it’s always an early exit for me, and that’s not what I want to do.
“Maybe it’s the set format. There’s a lot of good players in the PDC and maybe I've been unlucky with the draw.
“You can’t have an off day there; everybody wants to perform when the World Championship starts. Every player’s heartbeat goes up when they play there.”
Noppert has accrued the seventh-highest amount of prize money in 2025, with European Champion Gian van Veen the only Dutchman to better that tally.
The duo reached the semi-finals of the World Cup of Darts in June, and other convincing Dutch performers in 2025 such as Jermaine Wattimena and Wessel Nijman indicate that the Netherlands will continue to be a darting powerhouse.
“We are all close to each other,” said Noppert of his compatriots. “There is a lot of talent from the Netherlands right now.
“Gian and I are really good friends. At tournaments, we practice with each other, and the relationship is really good.
“We are all fighting for the World Cup next year. It is nice to play for the Netherlands, but I always like to play tournaments that count towards the rankings.”
Noppert will face fellow Dutchman Jurjen van der Velde for a place in round two at Ally Pally, after the 23-year-old reached the knockout stages of November's Grand Slam of Darts on debut.
However, Noppert remains quietly assured that he can take strides to go far in this year’s edition and break his Round Three curse.
“Maybe this year can be my year because my confidence is good,” claimed Noppert.
“My performances in this year’s televised tournaments have been good; I’ve made lots of semi-finals.
“If I win a few rounds at the World Championship, I can go even higher up the rankings, and maybe even get a spot in the Premier League.
“It would mean everything to have a good run at Ally Pally. With the prize money as well, life would change a lot.
“I’m not someone that says they will lift the title, but in my head, I think it’s possible.”