“One game at a time” – Former semi-finalist Dennis Nilsson opens 2025 WDF World Championship with strong win at Lakeside

Dennis Nilsson insists he is taking the 2025 WDF World Championship “one game at a time” after opening the tournament with a composed 3–0 victory over Shane Sakchekapo at Lakeside on Friday night.

The Swedish strongman became the first player to light up the iconic stage this year, and while the pre-match chatter focused more on the shaky WDF stream camera work than the tungsten, Nilsson was the one who stayed steady when it mattered.

The opening set belonged to Sakchekapo early on. The Canadian burst out with a superb 13-darter for 2–0, looking every inch the more settled player. Nilsson admitted afterwards he felt his opponent had the early edge: “When I saw him playing, he was playing better than me at the start of the game. He missed a few doubles and I took it and punished him.”

Nilsson did exactly that. Despite what he called a “nervous” start, he hauled himself back in with a crisp 15-darter including a 180 and pinpoint double 20, levelling the set before surviving set darts in the decider to steal it.

From there, the Swede took full control. A run of 140, 128 and another clean D20 put him 1–0 up in set two before he broke Sakchekapo’s throw on a 120 checkout. The highlight came shortly after: a superb 149 finish that sealed the second set in style. Nilsson then closed out a 3–1 final set to complete a commanding straight-sets victory, averaging 86.68 to Sakchekapo’s 84.35.

Nilsson said the turning point came from staying alert to his opponent’s missed chances: “It’s hard to come from behind because he was playing better than me. So I had to find some consistency with my throw. When he missed a few doubles, I took mine and turned the game around.”

The win sends Nilsson into a second-round meeting with rising talent James Beeton. And while Beeton represents a very different challenge, the former Lakeside semi-finalist is refusing to look beyond the next step. “Yes, I look forward to meeting him,” Nilsson said. “I know he’s very good. He’s young, and he’s a very good player, so you have to be switched on and do something very good. I hope we can play a good game.”

But despite his experience on this stage, Nilsson made clear he won’t be mapping out any deep runs. His philosophy is simple. “I always take it one game at a time,” he said. “If I win, I go forward. I don’t look too far ahead. I take the games as they come. If I win, I win. If I lose… well, I never see it as losing. You always enjoy it.”

Nilsson has made the ideal start. Steady, composed, and clinical when the match turned his way. With Beeton up next, the Swede is up and running — and firmly back in his comfort zone at Lakeside.