DANNY NOPPERT landed his first PDC title with a 6-4 win over Ian White in the final of Players Championship 20 on Saturday, on a day which saw a nine-darter hit in Dublin.
Playing in his first ranking final, Noppert produced a strong performance to see off White, who was seeking a fourth title of the year, as both players bounced back from first round exits in Friday's Players Championship 19.
Dutch star Noppert produced a 104.7 average in his semi-final win over World Champion Rob Cross, and also defeated Gary Eastwood, Mark Dudbridge, Davy van Baelen, Ricky Evans and Chris Quantock en route to clinching the £10,000 top prize.
"Every time I play I believe I can do it and today I have done it," said Noppert, who will face Gerwyn Price on his Unibet World Grand Prix debut on Monday.
"I'm really happy with my performance today, I'm always working to get my level higher.
"It's all about believing in yourself, which I do, and now I'm looking forward to playing in the World Grand Prix.
"Everything is new for me, I'm only looking forward and I'm going to enjoy every event I play in."
It was a strong start to the final from Noppert, who showed no sign of nerves as he raced into a 2-0 lead thanks to a 15-dart leg and an 88 finish.
White, who was playing in his 25th PDC final, broke straight back only for Noppert to do the same and restore his two-leg advantage.
Noppert tidied up 56 in two darts to move within a leg of the title before White checked out 72 under pressure to keep the tie alive and then broke the Dutchman's throw with a 120 checkout.
However, it was to be Noppert's day as he took out 75 to secure the biggest win of his career.
White survived a match-dart in his opening game against Jimmy Hendriks before dropping just eight legs in his next five matches against Nathan Aspinall, Kyle Anderson, Ron Meulenkamp, Mensur Suljovic and Keegan Brown to reach the final.
Earlier in the day Peter Hudson hit the third nine-dart finish of the ProTour weekend in his first round clash with Daryl Gurney, a leg after the Northern Irishman missed double 12 for a perfect leg of his own.
Elsewhere, world number one Michael van Gerwen suffered a first round exit at the hands of Martin Schindler, while Peter Wright was defeated by Robert Owen in the second round.
The next Players Championship events will be held on October 20-21 at The Barnsley Metrodome and will be streamed live on PDCTV-HD across both days.
See full Players Championship 20 results in the Match Centre.
Players Championship 20
Saturday September 29, The Citywest Hotel, Dublin
Last 16
Chris Quantock 6-5 Andrew Gilding
Danny Noppert 6-4 Ricky Evans
Kim Huybrechts 6-5 Jermaine Wattimena
Rob Cross 6-0 Joe Cullen
Ian White 6-0 Ron Meulenkamp
Mensur Suljovic 6-2 Michael Barnard
Robert Thornton 6-3 Adrian Lewis
Keegan Brown 6-4 Steve West
Quarter-Finals
Danny Noppert 6-3 Chris Quantock
Rob Cross 6-5 Kim Huybrechts
Ian White 6-1 Mensur Suljovic
Keegan Brown 6-5 Robert Thornton
Semi-Finals
Danny Noppert 6-3 Rob Cross
Ian White 6-3 Keegan Brown
Final
Danny Noppert 6-4 Ian White