For Danny Noppert, the Grand Slam of Darts proved to be an excellent tournament, capped by an impressive run to the semi-finals.
During that semi-final clash, Noppert pushed Luke Littler with real conviction — but it was a light-hearted exchange between the two that had commentators bursting into laughter, as seen in the widely shared footage.
Noppert’s campaign began strongly in the group stage with narrow victories over Lukas Wenig (5–4) and Cam Crabtree (5–4). His only slip came in a tight 4–5 defeat to Jonny Clayton. Advancing to the knockout rounds, he immediately faced Michael van Gerwen and delivered a standout performance, winning 10–6.
Next up was Lukas Wenig once more, and the German was unable to mount a challenge as Noppert powered to a 16–8 win, securing his spot in the semi-finals. There, Littler awaited. Early in the match, the Dutchman seized the initiative, building a lead, surrendering it, and then reclaiming it with authority.
Ultimately, Littler found another gear in the latter stages of the match and closed out a 16–9 victory. The win not only sent him through to the final — where he would later face Luke Humphries — but also confirmed him as the new world number one, overtaking Humphries in the process.
For Noppert, the tournament serves as a major confidence boost ahead of the 2026 PDC World Championship. The strong showing reinforces his form going into the sport’s biggest event, and his name is already circulating in conversations about potential Premier League contenders.
Noppert’s challenge now is to stay composed and maintain this level. Should he replicate another deep run at the World Championship — particularly another semi-final finish — his case for a Premier League spot will be impossible for the PDC to ignore.