Nijman blames himself after early World Championship exit: “It’s nobody else’s fault but my own”

Wessel Nijman was unable to build on his strong start at the World Darts Championship. The 25-year-old Dutchman was knocked out in the second round in straight sets by Gabriel Clemens and thus had to say goodbye to Alexandra Palace before Christmas. Afterward, Nijman didn’t look for excuses in conditions or his opponent, but put the blame squarely on himself.

The Dutchman had booked his place in the second round with conviction thanks to a strong win over Karel Sedlacek. That made him a slight favorite for his clash with Clemens, who has had an inconsistent year. On the big stage, however, Nijman never found his rhythm and couldn’t come close to his level from the first round.

Although his scoring held up reasonably well, the problem was mainly on the doubles. Nijman squandered too many chances at key moments, giving Clemens room to control the match. The German capitalized fully and sealed the contest 3-0 in sets.

Shortly after, Nijman spoke to Viaplay and delivered a strikingly calm assessment. “It’s a shame, but that’s how it is. Today it just wouldn’t flow. You feel it throughout the match. That’s a pity, but even so I still had chances to get into it. It’s not like I’m playing a (Luke, ed.) Littler who steamrolls me.”

According to Nijman, the turning point kept coming with missed finishes. “In that first set I miss a double, in that second set a handful to get back in.” That made the conclusion clear for him. “It’s nobody’s fault but my own, and that’s absolutely fine. It’s just incredibly disappointing.”

He felt less comfortable on stage than in his opener against Sedlacek. The contrast was evident. “The feeling wasn’t as good as it was in the first match. It just wasn’t meant to be and then he wins.” Preparation, Nijman said, was no different from a week earlier. “I approached this match the same as last week, but it just wasn’t meant to be.”

The disappointment was clear, but Nijman remained realistic about his situation. “You play such a good first round and then you play crap in a second round like this, but there’s another chance next year.”