By Alex Moss
12 DECEMBER 2016 • 7:23PM
Danny Noppert has played down rumours linking him with a move from the BDO to the PDC next year.
The 25-year-old Dutchman has enjoyed a breakthrough year on the BDO circuit, winning the Scottish Open, German Open and Masters of Waregem, as well as finishing runner-up in the Dutch Open.
Noppert, who is currently ranked fourth in the BDO, made an impressive debut in the Grand Slam of Darts last month – the cross-code tournament which features players from both the PDC and the BDO.
After finishing second in a group which included five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld and seventh seed Mensur Suljovic, Noppert was narrowly beaten in the last 16 by the PDC’s reigning world champion Gary Anderson.
It was Noppert’s fine showing on the Wolverhampton Civic Hall stage which prompted rumours to circulate regarding his future with the BDO going into 2017.
But he has quashed those rumours in a post on Facebook this evening, writing: “For all the people that ask me if I’m going to play in the PDC. I have decided first I want to go further in the BDO (translated).”
Despite suffering early exits in both the Winmau World Masters and Finder Darts Masters this month, Noppert will still be among the favourites at the Lakeside World Professional Darts Championship, which starts on January 7.
Noppert will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of fellow Dutchmen Jelle Klaasen and Christian Kist by winning the Lakeside on his debut. Klaasen beat Raymond van Barneveld 7-5 in the final in 2006, while Kist overcame Tony O’Shea by the same scoreline on his first attempt in 2012.
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