HOOD TOO SHORT BUT TOO GOOD FOR NOPPERT AT WORLDS
23/12/2025 By Aaron Nijjar
JUSTIN HOOD joked he is “too short” to reach the board after pulling off one of the shocks of the World Championship by edging Danny Noppert in a five-set classic.
‘Happy Feet’ dumped out the Dutchman 3–2 at Ally Pally in a dramatic encounter, averaging 103.01 and even going seven darts into a perfect leg.
World No6 Noppert threatened to steal it with FOUR ton-plus checkouts — including a 102 and a huge 157 in the sudden-death set — but Hood held his nerve to edge the decider 6–5.
Hood insisted the pressure of the occasion and the late drama never fazed him.
He said: “It was a good game but I knew it would be. Danny is a class player, but I was there and I have done it.
“He hit a 102 and 157. He needs to grow up. Let me have a shot to win. Selfish, but no, he is a class player. I gave him a chance and he took it.
“You expect it from him but I won and that’s all that matters.
“I’m quite lucky, I am really thick so I don’t worry about the pressure. If it is good enough, it’s good enough and tonight it was.
“I know how good I am and how good I can be, but it’s hard to reach the darts and I am too short — it’s a nightmare.
“I might play on 19s next game and see what happens.”
The Glastonbury thrower has now banked an impressive £35,000 for his two wins in the major tournament.
Hood previously revealed he would fulfill his dream of buying a Chinese restaurant alongside Luke Humphries if he reached round four of the competition.
He said: “It’s coming. If I get to the £60,000 round, so round three or four…
“Luke Humphries said he would buy in with me.”
Image by Taylor Lanning.
