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Danny Noppert beats Luke Humphries to win Players Championship 8 as Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen exit early | Darts News


Danny Noppert beat Luke Humphries 8-6 to win his first title of 2024 at the Players Championship 8 in Leicester on Tuesday.

The Dutchman becomes the eighth different man to win a Players Championship event this year, after Luke Littler, Gary Anderson, Ryan Searle, Damon Heta, Raymond van Barneveld, Dave Chisnall and Chris Dobey.

Noppert, who won the 2022 UK Open, has now been victorious in five Players Championships from final finals since joining the PDC in 2018.

As for Humphries, he will now turn his attention to the Premier League on Thursday in Birmingham, live on Sky Sports Action from 7pm.

Humphries was on the verge of being beaten several times throughout the day in Leicester but produced when it mattered most.

He brilliantly made a 167 checkout in the last 32 to defeat Brendan Dolan 6-5 in his first deciding leg of the day, then punished Chris Dobey’s miss at tops in their final leg to reach the quarter-finals with another 6-5 win.

The world No 1 saw off Gary Anderson 6-4 in the last eight and won a thrilling semi-final 7-6 against Gian van Veen.

Meanwhile, Noppert enjoyed an easier run to the final with just one deciding leg win over Stephen Burton in the last 32.

He followed that up by defeating Gerwyn Price 6-3, before another 6-3 win against compatriot Kevin Doets and a relatively comfortable victory in the semi-finals to beat Radek Szaganski 7-2.

Humphries took an early lead in the final by breaking Noppert straight away, but the Dutchman came back to win 8-6.

Littler and Van Gerwen exit in last 32

Littler, who is top of the Premier League after winning the last two nights, lost in the third round to the Netherlands’ Kevin Doets 6-5.

The 17-year-old had beat Christian Perez and Nathan Rafferty in the opening two matches but Doets came from 5-4 down and took out 106 after Littler missed match dart at D13.

Van Gerwen was dumped out in the same round by world No 26 Andrew Gilding as his disappointing form continues ahead of the Premier League, where the three-time world champion is fighting for a play-off place.

Premier League Darts - Night 10 (Sky Sports)
Image:
How the Premier League Darts table looks after Night 10

Van Gerwen, Littler, Humphries, Rob Cross, Gerwyn Price, Peter Wright, Nathan Aspinall and Michael Smith head to Birmingham for Night 11 of the Premier League, live on Sky Sports from 7pm from Thursday.

Watch on Sky Sports Action or stream through NOW.

Who plays who on Night 11?

Night 11, Birmingham – Thursday April 11

Quarter-finals
Peter Wright vs Luke Humphries
Rob Cross vs Luke Littler
Gerwyn Price vs Michael Smith
Michael van Gerwen vs Nathan Aspinall

2024 Premier League Darts schedule

Night 1 Cardiff Feb 1 Winner: Michael Smith
Night 2 Berlin Feb 8 Winner: Michael van Gerwen
Night 3 Glasgow Feb 15 Winner: Michael van Gerwen
Night 4 Newcastle Feb 22 Winner: Michael van Gerwen
Night 5 Exeter Feb 29 Winner: Nathan Aspinall
Night 6 Brighton March 7 Winner: Luke Humphries
Night 7 Nottingham March 14 Winner: Luke Humphries
Night 8 Dublin March 21 Winner: Luke Humphries
Night 9 Belfast March 28 Winner: Luke Littler
Night 10 Manchester April 4 Winner: Luke Littler
Night 11 Birmingham April 11
Night 12 Rotterdam April 18
Night 13 Liverpool April 25
Night 14 Aberdeen May 2
Night 15 Leeds May 9
Night 16 Sheffield May 16
Finals Night The O2, London May 23

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Gerwyn Price struck a nine-darter during his semi-final against Michael Smith on Night 10 of Premier League Darts in Manchester

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