VIDEO | "It doesn't make sense that I'm listed by the bookies as 6th favourite" - Wessel Nijman survives scare to keep World Darts Championship hopes alive
PDC
Wessel Nijman narrowly escaped elimination at the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship on Friday afternoon. Nijman was pressed hard by Cameron Carolissen and was only able to push aside the South African in a deciding leg.
In the fifth and deciding set, Nijman was down 1-2 before narrowly taking the win with two legs won in a row. "What a tug-of-war," Nijman sighed with relief afterwards in conversation with Dutch broadcasters Viaplay.
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"This is not the South African you expect at a time like this, is it," he continued. "After I was 2-0 ahead, I didn't think it was going to be that tough anymore. When he came back from 2-0 in sets to 2-2, my mind did briefly go, 'If only I don't let this slip through my fingers.' But I was convinced that if it came down to a deciding leg, I would throw it better than him. Last year it went wrong in a similar situation. Now I was the more experienced darter and that paid off."
It is only Nijman's second World Championship participation, but the expectations are huge this time around. Because of his good results on the tour in 2024 and because of his on paper good draw, Nijman was listed seventh by the bookies to become world champion at Alexandra Palace.
But before the tournament had even begun, Nijman was almost out. Nijman himself finds it remarkable that he is so well rated by the betting agencies. "That is based on my performance at the Grand Slam, but there I lost three times," he continues to Viaplay. "And at the Players Championship Finals I lost right away. So my last four matches at a major I've lost. So it doesn't make sense that I'm listed by the bookies as the sixth favourite to win the World Championship."
In the press conference with the English journalists, it was discussed that Nijman does not yet have a nickname. He had two reasons for that. "Two reasons, One is I don’t like nicknames in darts. And the second one is no one has ever given me a good one. But if you don’t like them, no one’s going to give you a good one anyway,” he concludes.
See his post-match press conference in full down below!
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- Beau also skipped Players Championships 7 & 8 next week, and PC 3 & 4 four weeks ago. If she next chooses to miss the Women's Series and PC 13 & 14 in mid-April then we can make a fair guess as to her reason.Scoobedybop13-03-2025
- I've commented before,Phil should let us all remember how great he was,and leave your darts in the drawer. Another humiliation will tarnish everything,you couldn't even beat old blokes who you would have beaten before the game started !!rick6712-03-2025
- I've commented before,Phil should let us all remember how great he was,and leave your darts in the drawer. Another humiliation will tarnish everything,you couldn't even beat old blokes who you would have beaten before the game started !!rick6712-03-2025
- Aspinall was a no-show: Carl Sneyd steps in from the Challenge Tour.Scoobedybop11-03-2025
- Likewise, I have always been a fan of Mervyn and with this worry on his mind, it explains why his form and ranking plummeted. It is really sad to hear this, often chatted to Mervyn and Tracey during the Lakeside days, both are lovely people. It does seem naive not acknowledging the fact it was earnings, surely there must be others in the same situation. I really hope the Kings can get through this....would a go fund me be permittedrichieburnettrocks11-03-2025
- I always like Merv,but he does he seems slightly naive with his comments. I wish you all the best, hope you can get sorted,and try and get back to a decent game,a bit of money.....and get rid of the dogs,if that's your main concern,I believe your priorities may be slightly wrongrick6710-03-2025
- What’s with the dogs element to this story, trying to pull at the heart strings? Just goes to show that being a good dart player does not equate to being that bright. Seriously, ‘I thought you didn’t have to pay tax on winnings’ , your a pro dart player and its your line of work, your not playing the lottery or placing a bet. I think it was Phil Taylor who said you should put a third to one side of all winnings into a bank account, obviously Merv was wearing his earplugs at the time.Mysstree10-03-2025
- The thing is... the folks who "humiliated" Taylor in the Seniors Events never really achieved anything in the important events - like Taylor did. Taylor had/has nothing to prove... and beating Taylor after he had retired is of zero value. Taylor in his prime would have made easy work of all of them. Cheers.MrYnyslas197107-03-2025
- Taylor was humiliated in the seniors events,so he really has nothing to lose by playing littler. I think he should put his darts away,and let us remember what a great player he wasrick6706-03-2025
- actually, since you're asking... yes. yes i do.colt06-03-2025