Wessel Nijman continues to impress in his first full year on the PDC Pro Tour. The 24-year-old Dutchman defeated Stephen Bunting 8-5 in the final of Players Championship 24 to capture his first PDC ranking title.
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Nijman took a 7-2 lead in the final, but then things got tense for a while when Bunting came back to 7-5. "I've felt like it was coming," said Nijman. "I thought [I had to] be patient and it will come.
"In the start of the year I was hitting 100 averages but I felt I was a bit unlucky losing those games, and then I started to hit those match darts.
Wessel Nijman in action
Return after suspension
Nijman was suspended for two and a half years in 2020 for match-fixing, confessed guilt and returned to the highest level. "It's probably the best months of my darting career. When I was playing the Development Tour last year I wasn't expecting to get a Tour Card."
With this tournament victory, Nijman climbs to 67th in the world rankings. "I knew I could win it when I was in the final. My goal was to get in the top 64 after two years; I'll probably get into it after one year so I'm very happy with that."
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🗣️ "I felt like it was coming!"
Wessel Nijman reflects on his impressive form that led him towards his first Pro Tour title, his friendship with Niels Zonneveld and his goals for the upcoming months.
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