“Then you can let out a roar” – Emotional Wessel Nijman reflects fondly on Players Championship 2 title win
PDC
Wessel Nijman has kicked off the season in a way that impresses not just on paper, but above all his opponents. With a new floor title in the bag, commanding averages, and a rock-solid mindset, the young darter is showing he is ready for the big stage.
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Nijman won last Thursday the second Players Championship of the year by beating Gerwyn Price 8-7 in the final. “To start a season like this is very good for me,” he told Viaplay. It typifies Nijman: no chest-thumping, no big talk, just a healthy satisfaction. Only in the final did he need a deciding leg.
According to Nijman himself, it starts with belief. “If you don’t have to play a deciding leg, by definition you’re in a good place,” he says. And that’s exactly how it was. His game was steady, his scoring consistent, and he gave little away on the doubles. That is crucial on the floor, where the pace is high and every mistake is punished mercilessly.
Knowing what’s coming
Even so, Nijman knew a daunting task awaited him in the final. His opponent had run riot in the quarterfinals against none other than Michael van Gerwen. With a 117 average and a crushing 6-0 win, he showed he was in red-hot form. Numbers like that do not go unnoticed.
“Between matches I’m just on my phone as well,” Nijman admits candidly. “In WhatsApp groups those messages just come in.” The darts world is small, and performances like that spread instantly. Nijman knew exactly what he was up against.
His opponent in the final was Gerwyn Price, a player known for his intensity and scoring power. And in the decider the Welshman posted imposing figures again: well over a 107 average and nearly 78 percent on his doubles. Normally those numbers are enough to win almost any match. Yet Nijman came out on top.
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Cold-blooded at the right moment
How do you win a final against someone playing like that? According to Nijman, the answer is timing. “It’s purely about doing the right things at the right moments,” he explains.
It sounds simple, but in practice it’s the essence of elite sport. At 7-7 in legs, Nijman produced a 121 checkout – a sledgehammer at precisely the right time. Where others might buckle under pressure, he shifted up a gear. “That’s being able to peak at exactly the right moment,” he says.
It wasn’t even that he surprised himself. Earlier in the day he had already thrown several matches with a 100-plus average. He knew it was in his game. “Not necessarily a 117 average, but a good match,” he adds with perspective.
Wessel Nijman won Players Championship 2
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Emotion after control
Anyone watching the final back will see an explosion of emotion after the winning double. A primal scream, clenched fists – finally it could all come out. Remarkable, because Nijman had seemed stoic all day long.
“You always have to stay calm and show virtually no emotion,” he explains. On the floor, where multiple matches often run simultaneously and the crowd is limited, everything revolves around focus. No theatre, no show – just pure darts.
But in the final, when the venue was largely empty, he let his feelings go. “Then you’re allowed a roar,” he says with a smile. It was the release after a day of tight control. And perhaps also the realisation that he had taken another big step in his development.
A list to be proud of
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Anyone lining up the recent winners of floor events sees an impressive list: Jermaine Wattimena, Luke Littler, Chris Dobey, James Wade – and increasingly among them the name Wessel Nijman.
Three of the last seven floor tournaments have gone his way. That’s no longer coincidence, that’s a trend. In a circuit where competition is fierce and the standard is extraordinarily high, consistency is the biggest weapon. And that’s exactly where Nijman sets himself apart.
“I couldn’t have imagined that beforehand,” he admits. “But it’s really something very cool.” The down-to-earth tone remains, but between the lines you can hear the pride. Rightly so. Because winning on the floor means you have to beat multiple top players in a single day. No time to play yourself in, no big stage to feed off – just you, your darts, and an opponent who is just as hungry.
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Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
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- Probably i will receive a lot of backlash and hate for this reaction, but well, so be it. I am more than sick and tired of those lies of you Barry Hearn. How dare you defend yourself over the back of Fallon’s son! He has a disability and not an illness, so let me correct that for you! I know because I have the exact same disability. I have tried to reach out to Fallon in the past, and offered her to help her and her son, because I was struggling with the same problems, and I understood the boy. I wanted him to have finally someone who understood him. However she told me that she did not want my help, and I have respected Fallon’s choice. I have never asked Fallon for money. They don’t need money in that case. I only ever wanted the best for Fallon and Rory, but I have to be honest about the situation. Fallon should tell the true story and not be forced to tell lies. I don’t hate Fallon, and I don’t begrudge or envy a single penny that she gets, but this situation/case is just not fair. I hate the lies and the dishonesty and injustice. I don’t want Fallon to be hated because there is an unfair disadvantage created. Don’t proclaim your false lies over the back of Rory! I only stand for integrity and justice. I am precisely the one who always sticks up for Fallon. And you don't, you don't give a damn about them. You were never there for them, and now you only want to save your own position! You are just trying to talk your way out of your own bad behavior at the expense of someone with a disability. And to Fallon, I don’t know if this may ever reach you, and you read it, but I want you to know I love you and I love your son Rory very much, I am sorry how things developed and went. I hope you and Harriet are still friends. I am sorry if I were too persistent to you, or you experienced it that way, but it was never my intention. Please understand I have autism as well. As Barry Hearn would say, I am only just a human being too, and I also make mistakes and misjudge things sometimes. I promise you I did everything out of the deepest love and care for you and Rory. If I were you, I should just keep all the money, only please never be dishonest or tell lies anymore for Barry Hearn, or anyone else. I hope you have the best life, and I wish nothing more than the best for you. I have always loved the two of you. Farewell.Hiddo05-11-2026
- She is a professional. If darts is her income, she is a professional. Same as Adrian Lewis, Martin Adams. A tour card just means someone can play on the PDC tour. You could even make a case that Clayton wasn't a professional (until recently I believe) because he had employment elsewhere.BandB04-11-2026
- She's technically not a professional though as she doesn't hold a pro tour card.mr-pablo04-11-2026
- Such a shame that lakeside has been reduced to this. Fantastic venue,and previously a great tournament. Not any morerick6703-11-2026
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- Fair play to Fallon. But...shows the mockery when a professional players wins what was meant to be an amateur v Pro event, Littlers performance was poor, and what about the players who didn't get a game? Would have been better if the pot was split amoungst all the winners and they all got a leg.BandB31-10-2026
