Niels Zonneveld wins Dutch Darts Championship for first PDC title after stunning Danny Noppert

Niels Zonneveld won his first senior PDC ranking title with an 8-5 victory over Danny Noppert in the Dutch Darts Championship final, producing a crucial 157 checkout before sealing the trophy on double three.

The Dutchman recovered from losing the opening two legs in Maastricht to win his first European Tour final, collecting £35,000 and securing a debut appearance at the Grand Slam of Darts.

Zonneveld averaged 92.93 to Noppert’s 87.66 as the final European Tour event of 2026 ended with a new champion on home soil.

Niels Zonneveld’s 157 checkout stops Noppert’s fightback

Noppert took the first two legs, but Zonneveld answered with five in succession to move within three of the title.

That advantage came under threat when Noppert reduced the deficit to 5-4. With the final tightening, Zonneveld found treble 20, treble 19 and double 20 for a 157 finish that restored his two-leg cushion.

He then broke throw for 7-4, only to miss a championship dart as Noppert kept the match alive.

The finish brought one last complication. After a 180 left 81, Zonneveld hit treble 19 before finding double nine instead of his intended double 12. He recovered immediately, landing double three with his final dart to become champion.

For Noppert, the £15,000 runner-up prize came with another disappointment: a fifth European Tour final defeat, extending his wait for a first title on the circuit.

From surviving a match dart to lifting the trophy

Zonneveld’s weekend could have ended in the quarter-finals.

He survived a match dart against Wessel Nijman before winning their deciding leg, averaging 102.06 in a 6-5 victory. A 7-4 win over Stephen Bunting then took him into his first European Tour final.

Bunting’s run had already helped settle the European Championship qualification battle, but Zonneveld ended his title challenge before beating another established name in the final.

His six victories in Maastricht, recorded in the tournament results, were:

Round	Opponent	Result
First round	Mike De Decker	Won 6-4
Second round	Krzysztof Ratajski	Won 6-5
Last 16	Gerwyn Price	Won 6-4
Quarter-final	Wessel Nijman	Won 6-5
Semi-final	Stephen Bunting	Won 7-4
Final	Danny Noppert	Won 8-5

Zonneveld had previously won Development Tour titles, but Maastricht delivered his first senior ranking trophy.

Grand Slam debut and Dortmund next

The victory also earned Zonneveld his first qualification for the Grand Slam of Darts, according to DartsNews’ final report.

His next opportunity comes at the European Championship in Dortmund. The £35,000 winner’s cheque lifted him to fourth on the European Tour Order of Merit and 28th in the world rankings.

He heads to Germany with his first senior title secured and another substantial prize available: the European Championship winner will receive £150,000.

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