The 2024 World Matchplay kicked off on Saturday evening in Blackpool, and it was a triumphant opening night for the Netherlands. All three Dutch representatives secured impressive victories, setting the tone for what could become a landmark tournament for Dutch darts.
Danny Noppert, nicknamed The Freeze, was the first to take the stage and wasted no time making his mark. He delivered a dominant 10-2 win over Scotland’s Cameron Menzies. Despite a surprising and perhaps unsportsmanlike moment from his opponent during the match, Noppert remained composed and focused, calmly securing his place in the next round.
Unbelievable 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/sNOPFDh5Ib https://t.co/EUYOUNe71W
— DartsAnonymous (@anonymous_darts) July 19, 2025
His performance served as inspiration for his compatriots. Gian van Veen followed shortly after, taking on the current world number one, Luke Humphries. In a tense and often chaotic atmosphere, with the crowd getting under Humphries’ skin, Van Veen displayed remarkable poise. Capitalizing on the Englishman’s frustration, the young Dutchman clinched a memorable 10-8 victory. In his post-match interview, Van Veen described it as the most significant win of his career to date.
The final Dutch player of the evening, Wessel Nijman, faced a high-stakes match against Nathan Aspinall—the 2023 World Matchplay champion. With a large amount of ranking prize money on the line, Aspinall was under immense pressure. But Nijman wasn’t fazed. Delivering one of the standout performances of the night, he averaged an impressive 101.72, second only to James Wade’s 104.44. His clinical 10-6 win over Aspinall capped off a perfect night for the Dutch contingent.
British Media laughing after this comment by Dirk Van Duijvenbode
After the match of Dirk van Duijvenbode, he was asked a rather special question referring to his pregnant wife back home, and with his witty response, he had the British reporter in stitches—as can be seen in this clip.
With a 100% win record on the tournament’s opening night, the Netherlands has announced its presence in emphatic fashion at this summer’s darting showcase.
The action continues on Sunday, with two more Dutch players entering the fray. Dirk van Duijvenbode and Jermaine Wattimena are set to compete in the afternoon session, while Belgium’s Mike de Decker will also take the stage later in the day.