“I don’t think I can say it on TV” – Wessel Nijman visibly frustrated after gut-wrenching loss in thriller to Gian van Veen
PDCThursday, 23 July 2026 at 15:47
Wessel Nijman once again failed to reach the quarter-finals of a TV major. The North Hollander lost 14-12 on Tuesday night at the World Matchplay after a gripping all-Dutch clash with Gian van Veen. Afterwards, disappointment prevailed for Nijman, who was convinced there had been more in it.
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The duel between the two most highly rated Dutch prospects did not disappoint. After a tight battle, Van Veen only edged it in overtime. However, Nijman had several chances to close it out earlier in his favour.
After the match he appeared in front of the camera visibly frustrated. “I don’t think I can say it on TV,” Nijman replied with a telling smile on Viaplay when asked what was going through his mind at that moment.
The build-up to the match was anything but normal. Due to Cameron Menzies feeling unwell during his match against Ross Smith, the clash between Van Veen and Nijman was brought forward by over an hour.
Still, Nijman refused to make that the cause of his defeat. "I think it changed the preparation, but I don't think that's the reason I lost. Not at all. With something like that, you know it's equally disruptive for both players, so you can never use it as an excuse for losing."
According to Nijman, the cause lay mainly in his own play at the start. "The first leg was good, but after that so many darts were just above or just below the target. I was really searching for my game, so that break came at a very good time for me."
After the first interval he found his rhythm and battled back into the match. "Once I had a moment to reset, I came back much stronger."
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‘I felt like I was the better player’
Despite the defeat, Nijman was left with the feeling he had control of the match for long stretches. "I still feel like I was the better player. Maybe that's not actually the case, but in every session I felt I was on top."
Yet he acknowledged that Van Veen made the difference at the decisive moments. "Unfortunately, Gian deserved to win in the end. It hurts again, but eventually it's going to happen."
For Nijman it was another painful ending at a TV major. Although he has developed into a mainstay in the world’s elite over the past two seasons, he is still waiting for his first quarterfinal at a major televised tournament.
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VAN VEEN DEFEATS NIJMAN!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 22, 2026
What a battle between the Dutchmen 🔥
Gian van Veen takes the scalp of Wessel Nijman in a dramatic tie-break contest, triumphing 14-12 to reach the quarter-finals 🌟
📺 https://t.co/xXnQhVoUPy#MatchplayDarts pic.twitter.com/JT5DdDK3yr
148 checkout proved decisive
The turning point of the match came with Nijman leading 11-10. At that moment he looked on course for the win, until Van Veen, under immense pressure, produced a superb 148 checkout to level the score.
Nijman was even able to make a joke about that crucial moment afterwards. “Yeah, what a bastard.” He immediately followed with a laugh. “Now I've got to book a flight home for tomorrow.”
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At the same time he could only express appreciation for his compatriot’s quality. “But finishes like that are exactly why he's world No. 3 and why he's through to the last 16.”
Lucas MichaelDarts Journalist
Lucas Michael is a darts journalist and reporter based in Cambridge, UK, and has been part of the DartsNews team since 2025. He covers professional darts through reports, analysis, round-ups, and live coverage, with a focus on clear context and accurate reporting across the PDC calendar.
A key part of his work is liveblogging major tournaments throughout the year, providing real-time updates, match coverage, and contextual reporting across the professional circuit. He also reports regularly from events on site and has covered the PDC World Darts Championship from the venue, delivering first-hand insight throughout the tournament.
Within the newsroom, Lucas works closely with the editorial team and supports coverage alongside Chief Content Officer Samuel Gill and reporter Kieran Wood.
Lucas holds a BA (Hons) in Sports Journalism. In his work, he places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating content promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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