Nijman’s Darts Drama: From 14 Missed Doubles to Thrilling Victory!
In a heart-stopping encounter at the European Darts Trophy, Dutch sensation Wessel Nijman staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Spain’s Cristo Reyes 6-5. After a disastrous start saw him miss 14 consecutive doubles and fall 3-0 behind, Nijman clawed his way back, showcasing incredible resilience and skill, including a crucial 127 checkout, to secure victory in a nail-biting deciding leg. This hard-fought win propels Nijman into the next round, where he will face Mike de Decker, continuing his promising run on the European Tour 2026.
The European Darts Trophy in Göttingen proved to be fertile ground for Dutch talent, with nine players competing. Among them, Wessel Nijman, already fresh from a quarter-final appearance in Poland on the European Tour 2026, was eager to continue his strong form. However, his opening match presented an immediate challenge: a clash against the formidable Spaniard, Cristo Reyes.
A Shocking Start: 14 Missed Doubles
The match began in dramatic fashion, with Reyes seizing an early 3-0 lead. This wasn’t necessarily due to Reyes’s brilliance, but rather a shocking display of inaccuracy from Nijman. Each segment of a darts match is called a ‘leg’, and players must hit a ‘double’ (the crucial outer ring of the dartboard) to win it. The young Dutchman inexplicably missed his first 14 attempts at these crucial doubles! It wasn’t until his 15th dart that he finally found the target, putting him 3-1 down and facing an uphill battle.
The Unstoppable Comeback
What followed was a testament to Nijman’s mental fortitude. He rapidly transformed his 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 lead. Reyes, perhaps feeling the pressure, also started to falter on his doubles, allowing Nijman to pounce. A highlight of this resurgence was a magnificent 127 ‘checkout’ – a specific combination of darts (like a triple 19, double 20, and double 18) needed to finish a leg – which put him ahead for the first time in the match. He then narrowly missed a double 18 that would have extended his lead and put further pressure on his opponent.
Nail-Biting Decider and Victory
The two players traded legs, leading to a tense 5-5 scoreline and a decisive eleventh leg. The pressure was palpable, with both men showing signs of nerves. Yet, it was Nijman who ultimately held his nerve. He calmly found the crucial double 20, sealing a hard-fought 6-5 victory and securing his place in the next round. His next challenge will be against Belgium’s Mike de Decker.
Match Statistics at a Glance
- Wessel Nijman:
- Average Score (per three darts): 91.11
- Double Percentage (successfully hitting a double to win a leg): 23.1%
- Cristo Reyes:
- Average Score (per three darts): 84.36
- Double Percentage (successfully hitting a double to win a leg): 41.7%
Note on Stats: While Reyes had a higher double percentage, Nijman’s ability to create more scoring opportunities and hit crucial doubles at the right time proved decisive, especially after his initial struggles.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Actueel.
