Underdog Triumphs: Wessel Nijman Stuns Gerwyn Price in PDC Players Championship 2 Final
In a stunning display of skill and resilience, Wessel Nijman pulled off a sensational upset at PDC Players Championship 2, defeating the seemingly unstoppable Gerwyn Price in a nail-biting final. Price, who had dominated the day with incredible averages and a whitewash victory over darts legend Michael van Gerwen, was ultimately denied by Nijman’s clinical finishing in a deciding leg. The tournament also featured two spectacular nine-dart finishes and a mix of top performances and unexpected early exits, setting a high bar for the darts season.
The Unforgettable Final: Nijman vs. Price
The final match between Wessel Nijman and Gerwyn Price was nothing short of a spectacle. Price, known as ‘The Iceman’, seemed destined for the history books, maintaining an astonishing 105.69 average throughout the day and registering the highest individual match averages. However, Nijman proved to be an unyielding opponent.
- Nijman opened strongly, hitting a trio of 14-dart legs to take a surprise 3-1 lead.
- Price responded with a massive 144 checkout to level the score at 3-3.
- Price then took the lead at 6-5 with a cool 121 finish on the bullseye.
- Undeterred, Nijman once again levelled with a brilliant 12-dart leg.
- The tension culminated in a deciding-leg shoot-out, where Nijman’s clinical 94 checkout secured his fourth PDC Players Championship title.
Nijman finished with a remarkable 102.78 average in his victory, expressing his joy at defeating the formidable Welshman.
“To win a final like this, when Gerwyn pushes you to the limit, it means a lot… I am really happy with the way I played today. I’m getting close to the top 24 now but I want to improve a lot. I want to be in the top 16 and I want to improve in the big games… I think it’s just a matter of time.” – Wessel Nijman
Nijman’s Road to Glory
Wessel Nijman’s journey to the final was marked by consistent high-level play and impressive victories:
- Early rounds saw comfortable wins over Viktor Tingstrom and Samuel Price.
- A 105 average against Cor Dekker truly ignited his campaign.
- He secured a 6-4 win over Tommy Morris in the Last 16.
- In the quarter-finals, Nijman delivered a dominant performance, averaging 106.03 in a 6-2 demolition of Carl Sneyd.
- The semi-final against Ryan Searle saw Nijman rally from an early 2-0 deficit to win 7-2, taking seven straight legs to advance to the final.
Gerwyn Price: A Day of Dominance, Almost Perfection
Gerwyn Price’s performance leading up to the final was nothing short of spectacular, solidifying his status as one of the sport’s giants. He showcased incredible form throughout the day, dropping very few legs:
- He reached the quarter-finals with impressive averages of 102.48, 97.87, and 101.06.
- Price then found another gear, averaging 111.14 in a tight 6-4 battle with Luke Woodhouse.
- His most stunning victory was a whitewash 6-0 win over five-time world champion Michael van Gerwen, powered by a blistering 117.12 average – a first in their storied rivalry.
- In the semi-final, a 104.52 average was enough to triumph 7-4 over Krzysztof Ratajski.
- Despite a phenomenal 107.41 average in the final, it wasn’t enough to secure the title against Nijman.
Beyond the Final: Nine-Darters and Notable Moments
Players Championship 2 was filled with other memorable moments and performances:
- Nine-Darters Galore: The tournament saw two perfect nine-dart legs. James Hurrell achieved this feat in his first-round match against Maik Kuivenhoven, and Gabriel Clemens followed suit with a nine-darter in his third-round win over Madars Razma, where the German also averaged an impressive 108. A nine-darter is the fewest possible darts needed to finish a leg, showcasing ultimate precision. These brought the total to three nine-darters in two days, following Mickey Mansell’s achievement the previous day.
- Grudge Match Revisited: Joe Cullen faced Mensur Suljovic, a rematch from their contentious Ally Pally encounter. Suljovic once again emerged victorious in a clash that was notably more good-spirited than their previous meeting.
- Van Gerwen’s Journey: Michael van Gerwen had a challenging but notable run, outperforming Michael Smith in the opening round, eliminating Charlie Manby (who had defeated Chris Dobey and Jimmy van Schie), and ousting James Hurrell in a last-leg decider.
- Unseeded Success: Carl Sneyd was the only unseeded player to reach the quarter-finals, proving his mettle against many of the sport’s biggest stars.
Shocks and Disappointments
Not all performances were for the right reasons, with some big names experiencing early exits:
- Peter Wright was eliminated in the opening round for the second consecutive day.
- Newly-minted PDC Tour Card Holder Jeffrey Sparidaans averaged in the 60s for the second successive day.
- Five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld slumped to a 6-1 defeat in the second round with a 69 average.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next in Darts
The majority of PDC Tour Card Holders will remain in Hildesheim on Wednesday to compete in the first European Tour qualifiers of the year. The PDC Players Championship series will then resume next week in Wigan for PC3 and PC4 on Monday, February 16th and Tuesday, February 17th.
PDC Players Championship 2: Key Results
Last 16
- Gerwyn Price 6-4 Luke Woodhouse
- Michael van Gerwen 6-5 James Hurrell
- Danny Noppert 6-2 Gabriel Clemens
- Krzysztof Ratajski 6-2 Mario Vandenbogaerde
- Ryan Searle 6-4 Kevin Doets
- Dave Chisnall 6-3 Daryl Gurney
- Wessel Nijman 6-4 Tommy Morris
- Carl Sneyd 6-5 Ritchie Edhouse
Quarter-Finals
- Gerwyn Price 6-0 Michael van Gerwen
- Krzysztof Ratajski 6-2 Danny Noppert
- Ryan Searle 6-1 Dave Chisnall
- Wessel Nijman 6-2 Carl Sneyd
Semi-Finals
- Gerwyn Price 7-4 Krzysztof Ratajski
- Wessel Nijman 7-2 Ryan Searle
Nine-Darters!
- James Hurrell hit a nine-darter in his round one tie against Maik Kuivenhoven.
- Gabriel Clemens hit a nine-darter in his round three tie against Madars Razma.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
