Wessel Nijman is undoubtably having one of the greatest ProTour seasons on record, already winning six Players Championships’ and two European Tours’, becoming just the fourth player – after Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen and Peter Wright – to win eight ProTour Titles in a single season!
At just 26 years old, his 11 titles in the PDC is already the third-most by a Dutch player, an incredible feat given the darting prowess of the Netherlands.All these achievements make it more baffling as to why he hasn’t found this form on the TV Stage.
Across his 16 major TV appearances, he has never reached a Quarter-Final, with a trio of Last 16 appearances being his best results. The Dutchman hasn’t struggled with performances, previously averaging 106.51, 105.39 and 111.1 in a single Grand Slam group stage (failing to win a single game), as well as a 100+ averages at the Players Championship Finals last year, and at the UK Open in March. It is often his inability to win the decisive moments – not his overall level – that costs him.
He showed vulnerability on the stage against Michael van Gerwen in the European Championship last year, losing 6-5 having missed a handful of match darts to win. However, his recent success on the European Tour has shown that he has the ability to pick up his titles on major stages, and his incredible number of wins across the PDC circuits in 2026 will always speak for itself.
Nijman made his debut at the World Matchplay in 2025, getting drawn against the eighth seed Nathan Aspinall, who had the major feat of defending his prize money from claiming the crown in 2023.
Wessel produced a very clinical performance to down the Asp 10-6 with a 101.72 average. However, he ran into eventual finalist in the second round, James Wade, where he fell short 11-5 amid a 102+ average from the Machine.
Twelve months ago, Nijman arrived at Blackpool ranked World no.42, the lowest ranked player in the field on debut. He returns on Sunday as the World no.14, and the third favourite to pick up the title behind the two Luke’s. An impressive progression without a ‘major’ run to back it up.
He will open his campaign against Dave Chisnall, a player he has beaten on all three of their previous meetings, offering up a golden opportunity to potentially take on third seed Gian van Veen for a spot in the last eight.
The only question remaining is whether the game’s most dominant floor player of the last decade can finally prove he belongs on the stage amongst the sports elite.
Images: PDC
