It’s something you almost never see in professional darts: Stephen Bunting making a costly mistake on stage. Yet that’s exactly what happened on Wednesday night in his clash with Danny Noppert.
Ranked fourth in the world, Bunting is known for his precision and composure. But against Noppert, “The Bullet” slipped up in surprising fashion — the kind of error that elite players almost never make. The footage quickly made the rounds, showing just how rare the blunder was.
For “The Freeze,” it was an unexpected gift. Noppert seized the opportunity and secured a quarterfinal spot, becoming the first Dutch player to do so in this year’s tournament. Only one other Dutchman can still join him: Dirk van Duijvenbode.
Van Duijvenbode — nicknamed “Aubergenius” — will face Daryl Gurney on Thursday evening. Gurney caused a stir earlier in the competition by eliminating Ross Smith, while Van Duijvenbode himself knocked out Michael van Gerwen in the first round.
Other Dutch players, including Wessel Nijman, Jermaine Wattimena, Raymond van Barneveld and Gian van Veen, have already bowed out. Despite their early exits, many left a positive impression in what remains one of the sport’s most demanding formats: double-in, double-out.
That format makes every double count. Players must hit a double to start a leg, and it’s not unusual for one player to finish before the other even gets underway — a brutal reminder of how punishing the format can be.
The last 16 still promises several exciting encounters: Luke Humphries vs. Cameron Menzies, Luke Littler vs. Mike De Decker, Gerwyn Price vs. Josh Rock, and Jonny Clayton vs. Luke Woodhouse.
The final Round of 16 matches take place on Thursday, followed by the quarterfinals on Friday and the semifinals on Saturday. The tournament will culminate with Sunday’s grand final, when we’ll find out whether Mike De Decker can defend his crown — or if a new champion will rise.