WESSEL Nijman & Nathan Rafferty were victorious on Saturday, in winning Development Tour Events Eight & Nine respectively, as the PDC’s Youth Tour weekend continued in Hildesheim.
Nijman, who picked up three Development Tour titles during his 2023 campaign, went all the way once again in Event Eight, as he reached the final firstly by recording victories against Danny de Jong, Paul-Merlin Pfeifer, Nathan Rafferty, Jurjen Van der Velde, Levy Frauenfelder, Gian Van Veen and Danny Jansen, to set up a clash with Germany’s Niko Springer.
The final began with three straight breaks of throw between the pair, which was ended by Springer in Leg Four, as the German held throw for the first time to lead 3-1 in a race to five. Nijman then halved the deficit in Leg Five with a 12 darter, which was then followed by a 15 darter from Springer to move within one of victory.
Nijman produced a remarkable comeback, by rattling off three consecutive legs in 13,14 and 12 darts respectively to seal a 5-4 victory and picking up a sixth Development Tour success of his career.
In Event Nine, Nathan Rafferty was victorious, with the Northern Irishman reaching the final firstly by recording victories against Tyler Mantle, Marteau Keano, Viktor Tingstrom, Tyler Thorpe, Bram Van Dijk, Jarred Cole and Nathan Potter, to set up a clash with Danny Jansen.
The final began with Rafferty racing into a 2-0 lead, with winning legs coming in a total of 31 darts, before there was a run of four straight holds of throw between the pair, which was ended by Rafferty in Leg Seven, as he broke his Dutch opponent’s throw and sealed a 5-2 victory in 15 darts to pick up a staggering 11th Development Tour title of his career.
The PDC Winmau Development Tour weekend concludes on Sunday with Event 10 taking place in Hildesheim, as play commences from 10:30 CET, with all live scores and results to be viewed at tv.dartconnect.com
PDC Winmau Development Tour
Event Eight
Quarter Finals
Wessel Nijman 5-4 Gian Van Veen
Danny Jansen 5-0 Colinn Haverkate
Niko Springer 5-3 Daniel Perry
Marvin Van Velzen 5-3 Angelo Balsamo
Semi Finals
Wessel Nijman 5-4 Danny Jansen
Niko Springer 5-3 Marvin Van Velzen
Final
Wessel Nijman 5-4 Niko Springer
Event Nine
Quarter Finals
Wessel Nijman 5-3 Sebastian Bialecki
Danny Jansen 5-0 David Fidler
Nathan Rafferty 5-2 Jarred Cole
Nathan Potter 5-2 Mason Whitlock
Semi Finals
Danny Jansen 5-4 Wessel Nijman
Nathan Rafferty 5-0 Nathan Potter
Final
Nathan Rafferty 5-2 Danny Jansen
—–Ends—–
Images: PDC
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