"I was a little bit afraid to come off the stage to play a game" - Nerves abolished on the oche as Jermaine Wattimena targets top 10 breakthrough

Jermaine Wattimena recently announced the news that he would be joining Winmau following the end of his partnership with German brand Bull's. He was enthrealled about the project and was raring to go with new heights in his darting career ready to be hit.

Wattimena was excited for the new partnership, ready for a fresh start. "I was looking for something different after 11 and a half years working with Bull’s together," he said in an interview with the brand. "I think it was now time to make a change and go up in the rankings. They spoke to me for some time, and they said, 'Do you want to win now?' I said, 'Yes, sure, let’s do it. Let’s see what we can do for each other.'"

It was a promising start with the new equipment. "I’m happy with the first two Players Championship titles last year, so I think it will be good for Winmau in the future as well. My first European Tour final last week, so it’s looking good."

Wattimena is a darts player on the rise, showing a lot of potential on the oche with some big scoring and some brutal darts. There has been glimmers of that this year with the Dutchman getting close to breaking more ground.

He reached two Players Championship finals, losing in both, while for the first time reaching a European Tour final at the European Darts Open, falling short against Krzysztof Ratajski. "It’s not really close," he said when asked how close he was to winning a maiden European Tour title. "It was close, but it was the first time I won a quarter-final in many years. I was really happy with that."

After so many tries, it was the first time he made it past a quarter-final stage which ushered in some emotional scenes. "It means a lot for me to win a quarter-final. And then in the final, I think Dimitri was a little bit better than I was. But it’s coming more and more. We will see in the next few years. We’ll work with Winmau and get some titles."

He is passionate about doing it with Winmau. "Yes, of course. I was close to a major title as well. So I’m always fighting for the win. I fight, fight, press, press. I just start with a little bit more practice. So I think we’re going to win one in the future."

Wattimena is a major finalist, losing in the 2024 European Championship final against Ritchie Edhouse in a final lineup no one would have guessed. He is also a semi-finalist from the Players Championship Finals last year, showing clear sign of progress at major level.

"It could be possible," he hinted. "I’ve been more comfortable on stage for the last three or four years now. I had a little bit of a problem with the big pressure on my shoulders. It took a long time to get that pressure off my shoulders when I played the big tournaments.

"And since then, when I feel comfortable — the European Championship final, the semi-final at the Players Championship Finals — this looks really good for me. It took some time, took a long time to get over it. And now I think, a few years ago, maybe you didn’t see it in me, but I was a little bit afraid to come off the stage to play a game. And now I play much better on stage because I’m feeling better."

Without this pressure, it is not only the darts that is improving but his mood and persona on stage. "That’s 100% true," he said. "I’m more myself right now. And you see that I’ve played much better then."

The nerves have been halted with years of experience key in keeping his cool on stage. "Don’t be nervous before the match. Don’t be stressed before the match. That was a few years ago, and now not anymore. And then sometimes emotions come out because you know you can do it, and then finally it happens."

With all these titles deep runs come a rise in the rankings. Currently in a career high 17th in the world, Wattimena is very happy with his position, but not satisfied with there still more heights to be hit. "I want to first go into the top 16 for a time, and then hopefully fight my way up the rankings around the top 10. That’s the thing for the year. It’s a new target."

These top 10 aspirations are tricky with darts currently in a period with many talented players all challenging for the same positions and titles. "There are so many good players who can play in the top 10. The step to the top is really big, to be honest, and every tournament you’re fighting for yourself."

'The Machine Gun' made the trip to the Winmau factory in South Wales. "It looks amazing, big. It surprised me how many people work there, to be honest," he remarked. It has since gone even bigger. "The factory is really big. The first time I was there, it was amazing."

He was on board from the start, totally convinced by joining this brand and taking the first step into a new world. "I had to do it because I think they will work more with me in the future, in the next few years."

He has a big influence over his darts with more merchandise on the way. "I asked them to make some darts with a little bit more grip, so I think they are coming up," he stated. "The shirts, I don’t know how they look yet, but I hope to see them soon as well, the designs. They’ll be all new for me. New shirt, new darts. And in a couple of months, I will press a little bit more to see what’s going on.

"It is exciting. I agree with that, but I was happy with Bull’s as well. They’re a good company. They’re good guys. The owner is a really good guy, but I have to make a choice for myself. I talked with him as well and I said, “Yeah, I have to make a choice for myself and not for someone else.” So I chose this time for myself to chase."

He was a huge hit at the factory in a major coup for Winmau with all parties involved hoping for a flourishing partnership for many years to come.