Wessel Nijman misses out on hat trick on Development Tour and loses final after deciding leg

Wessel Nijman again managed to reach the final on the PDC Development Tour on Saturday afternoon. He fell short of the title, however, as the overall victory at the eighteenth Development Tour tournament went to Niko Springer.

The Dutchman had won both tournaments in Milton Keynes on Friday. At the second tournament of the day, Nijman won over Springer in the final, but this time the German darter managed to take revenge on Nijman.

Nijman qualified for the final by defeating Henry Coates (4-0), Leighton Bennett (5-1) and Dylan Dowling (5-0), among others. Springer defeated Jack Male (4-2), Craig Galliano (5-4) and Dylan Slevin (5-0), among others.

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In the final Nijman got off to a good start by taking a 3-0 lead with three 15-darters. A 16-darter later made it 4-2. Springer then threw out 158 in the seventh leg while Nijman was waiting for tops. Nijman then left three match darts of his own unused in leg eight. Springer forced a final leg, which then went to the German with a 17-darter.

The Development Tour is the youth circuit of the PDC. This tour is open to players ages 16 through 23. Players who turn 24 during the season may continue to compete.

At each Development Tour tournament, there is a prize pool of 15,000 pounds to be divided. With the prize money, a ranking is established. At the end of the season, the numbers one and two receive an invitation to the World Darts Championship, plus a Tour Card for 2025 and 2026. The ranking winner also gets to compete in the Grand Slam of Darts.

Results PDC Development Tour 18

Last 16

Wessel Nijman 4 | 1 Charlie Manby

Leighton Bennett 4 | 3 Owen Maiden

Dylan Dowling 4 | 0 Julian Zwergel

Keenan Thomas 4 | 3 Lukas Fraulob

Dylan Slevin 4 | 3 Marvin van Velzen

Angelo Balsamo 4 | 1 Keane Barry

Niko Springer 4 | 2 Jack Male

Craig Galliano 4 | 2 Nathan Rafferty

Quarterfinals

Wessel Nijman 5 | 1 Leighton Bennett

Dylan Dowling 5 | 2 Keenan Thomas

Dylan Slevin 5 | 0 Angelo Balsamo

Niko Springer 5 | 4 Craig Galliano

Semi-final

Wessel Nijman 5 | 0 Dylan Dowling

Niko Springer 5 | 0 Dylan Slevin

Finale

Niko Springer 5 | 4 Wessel Nijman