Noppert had already won against Jermaine Wattimena in the first round, but with Stephen Bunting the number four on the placement list now waited. That did not make it an easy job for the Dutchman.
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Noppert retained the first set, which he had started himself, and then he built up a buffer by also winning the set that Bunting started. This turned out to be necessary, because Bunting hit back in the third set and the tension returned to the match.
Tinkering Stephen Bunting
But Bunting then began to fiddle with throwing out the first leg of the fourth set. Noppert took advantage, after which the lethargic-looking Bunting completely lost his way. Moments later, the Englishman also grabbed his lower back a few times, as if he was not fully fit.
The 34-year-old Fries did not even have to show his best darts to advance to the last eight. He finished it off with a 100 finish. That immediately meant the first Dutch victory of this tournament against a non-Dutch darts player.