"Everybody was singing it I thought I need to have this one for the Worlds": Wesley Plaisier explains random switch to Robbie Williams walk-on

Wesley Plaisier admitted he was “over the moon” after producing a composed and emotional performance to secure victory on the Alexandra Palace stage at the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship, describing the win as one of the most meaningful of his career.

The Dutchman showed impressive resilience to turn the match in his favour after a nervy spell, particularly when trailing 2–1 in the third set. Plaisier explained that while he started strongly, the pressure of the occasion briefly caught up with him at Ally Pally.

“The second set, I got a little bit more nervous,” he said post match. “And out of nothing, I think it was something like 13 darts. The last leg of the third set was really good. Then I broke him with an 11-dart leg. That’s where I felt more composed on the stage. I think that’s the main reason I won the game.”

The win marked only Plaisier’s second success on the famous Ally Pally stage, and he was quick to underline just how much it meant after a challenging year on tour. While the opening months of his season were difficult, he feels the strong finish to the year helped him arrive in London full of belief.

“I had a tough first half of the year,” Plaisier reflected. “The second half was really good. I came here with a lot of confidence. And after the second set, I thought, keep calm and try to get it over the line. I’m really, really happy to take the win.”

That difficult first half of the year was shaped not only by narrow defeats, but also by personal loss. Plaisier revealed that the death of his grandmother midway through the season had a profound impact on him, but also helped strengthen his resolve.

“I played well in the first half of the year, but I lost a lot of games 6–5 and it didn’t go my way,” he said. “I lost my grandmother halfway through the year, so for me that was a tough one to take. But maybe it made me stronger. I’m so happy to be here, to be at the World Championship Finals. For me, this one was for my grandmother. I hope she’s proud up there.”

Attention now turns to a second-round meeting with either Gerwyn Price or Adam Gawlas, and Plaisier is embracing the challenge with a relaxed mindset. The Dutchman believes he has nothing to lose, particularly if he is drawn against the former world champion.

“Let’s say I have nothing to lose if I play Gerwyn Price,” he said. “I’m really happy to be in the second round and we will see what happens. If I play my own game, I can make it hard for everybody. Hopefully I can go home with a win again.”

Plaisier also reflected on the visible emotion he showed at the end of the match, acknowledging that a potential clash with Price could produce a similarly intense atmosphere.

“He’s a world-class player,” Plaisier added. “If it’s Gerwyn Price, it will be a great game to play. Hopefully I can make it hard for one of the two.”

Away from his own performance, Plaisier was full of praise for fellow Dutchman Jimmy van Schie, who recently claimed the Lakeside World Championship title. Having played at Lakeside himself earlier in his career, Plaisier was impressed by van Schie’s composure under pressure.

“He did a really great job up there,” Plaisier said. “He was one of the favourites and everybody expected him to win the tournament. There was a young guy, Mitchell Lawrie, 15 years old—unbelievable. He played really, really good on that stage. But Jimmy kept his composure and won the tournament. If he gets a Tour Card, he’s going to make it hard for everybody. He’s a really good player.”

One of the talking points of Plaisier’s Ally Pally appearance was his new walk-on song, Angels, which immediately won over much of the crowd. The change, he revealed, was entirely his own idea after experiencing the song’s effect at another major event.

“This was my own choice,” he explained. “I was at the Players Championship Finals and between the matches they played that song and everybody was singing it. I thought, I think I need to have this one for the Worlds.”

While Plaisier admitted the song choice may have helped bring the crowd on side, he stressed it was first and foremost a personal decision.

“Maybe a little bit,” he smiled. “But I like the song myself. It helped me, I think, because the crowd got a little bit on my side—except for a couple of people.”

Drawing on his experience from his debut at Alexandra Palace last year, where he also won a match, Plaisier believes he is now far more comfortable on the sport’s biggest stage.

“Last year I was really, really nervous in the first game,” he said. “I never felt nerves like that before. Now I feel so composed on the stage, except for the second set. I think the experience from last year helped me a lot.”