Dutch darting sensation Wessel Nijman is simply a winning machine at the moment – picking up a fourth PDC Players Championship title of the season to go alongside his maiden Euro Tour triumph last month.
Today’s victory for Nijman – secured in a pulsating final against fellow Netherlander Jermaine Wattimena – takes his relatively fresh career floor-event tally to seven, with all but one coming in the past six months.This wasn’t the turbo-charged version of the reigning European Darts Trophy champion we are accustomed to seeing.
However, despite the 25-year old recording just a solitary ton-plus average all afternoon, it was high-quality stuff nonetheless. After navigating his way to the quarter-finals with only Tom Sykes pushing him all the way, Nijman eventually halted Nathan Potter’s dream day to move within touching distance of another title. Awaiting the Dutchman next was Tour Card debutant Tom Bissell, who has been making giant strides since entering the Lion’s Den.
The Bizzness had already dipped his toes in a semi-final pool earlier this year in Wigan and repeated that run again this afternoon. Unfortunately for him, he could not quite take those final steps that would have seen him reach a maiden Players Championship final. Then again, he was facing Wessel Nijman – a man who is hoovering up titles this season.
On the opposite side of the draw, last year’s two-time Pro Tour winner Jermaine Wattimena was looking to rediscover that golden touch. The Machine Gun has yet to fully kick on as expected since breaking his title duck, but he will take confidence from this performance.
Early in his quarter-final clash with Chris Dobey, it appeared Wattimena’ s race was run. Trailing 2-0, the Dutchman dug deep and reeled off five legs on the bounce before closing it out against the Geordie shortly after.
That victory set up a repeat of the recent European Darts Grand Prix clash, where Jermaine got the better of good friend and stablemate Kevin Doets. Frustratingly for Hawkeye, lightning struck again in Milton Keynes.
A quick word on Doets before we move on to the final. If there were a consistency award on this year’s Players Championship circuit, aside from those collecting titles, Kevin would be a standout candidate.
For the second time in as many days, he bowed out at the semi-final stage, left to watch yet another 30-yard shot at goal agonisingly crash against the crossbar. That elusive maiden PDC Pro Tour title feels inevitable – but for Doets, it likely cannot arrive soon enough.
So, after just over five hours of pulsating, high-quality action, it came down to an oche battle and an all-Dutch decider. Wattimena took early control to lead 4-2 before his compatriot produced a timely three leg burst to edge in front. The Machine Gun then stopped the mini rot to level matters.
From that point, it was nip and tuck, but the defining moment – and indeed the turning point – was about to unfold. Trailing 6-5, Wattimena squandered six darts to restore parity. Nijman pounced without hesitation to gratefully break before holding both nerve and throw to seal yet another remarkable chapter in what is rapidly becoming a season of fairytale proportions.
2006 PDC PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP – EVENT TWELVE
Milton Keynes, England (Tues 28th April)
Quarter-Finals
Wessel Nijman 6-2 Nathan Potter
Tom Bissell 6-3 Max Hopp
Jermaine Wattimena 6-3 Chris Dobey
Kevin Doets 6-1 Gary Anderson
Semi-Finals
Wessel Nijman 7-4 Tom Bissell
Jermaine Wattimena 7-3 Kevin Doets
Final
Wessel Nijman 8-5 Jermaine Wattimena
—–END—–
Images: PDC
