We have seen several false dawns in the PDC TV ‘major’ career of Wessel Nijman, but expectation is building once again ahead of the Betfred World Matchplay for the Dutchman, and for very good reason.
A maiden Pro Tour crown, and seven titles on the PDC Winmau Development Tour in 2024 saw Nijman installed as the sixth favourite for the 2025 World Championship, and that was much to Joe Cullen’s chagrin, as ‘The Rockstar’ took that personally, and the Bradford man romped to a 3-0 second round success at Ally Pally.
The second round has been Nijman’s ceiling in the three appearances he has made in the biggest event of the year, as he crashed out of the 2026 edition with a whitewash loss to Gabriel Clemens, but this year has seen a seismic change in crossing the big winning lines for the man from Uitgeest.
A remarkable six Pro Tour titles have been banked across the first half of the season, but the real breakthrough has come on the continent, with a first Euro Tour win secured at the European Darts Trophy (ET2) early on in the year, and that was backed up with Slovak Darts Open glory (ET9) last month.
All of these accolades seem to have been gearing towards big things in the TV tournaments for the 26-year-old, and he starts as the third favourite with most bookmaking outlets ahead of his second tilt at the Phil Taylor Trophy in Blackpool.
After a second-round exit in 2025, Nijman has been handed an opening assignment against Dave Chisnall, where he starts as the hot favourite to make the last 16.
With Chisnall enduring a tricky period in his career, few would bet against Nijman prevailing, but that is where the tests will get more and more difficult, with a potential meeting with Gian van Veen or Krzysztof Ratajski a second round reward should he get past ‘Chizzy’ .
He is however in the opposite side of the draw to defending Champion Luke Littler, and that could really benefit Nijman going under the radar in a bid for glory.
It’s staggering to think that Nijman’s best run at a TV tournament in the PDC ranks is a last 32 run at this years’ UK Open, but with the way he is currently playing, and the seasonal numbers being produced by him, as well as all of the titles he has hoovered up this year, it’s hard to ignore him as a serious contender for the top prize, and this could finally be the big-tournament run that he has been waiting for.
Image: PDC
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