Wessel Nijman, a 25-year-old darts sensation, is consistently proving himself as one of the sport’s most promising talents, especially in non-televised “floor” events where he boasts an incredible win rate and high averages. Despite his undeniable skill and scoring power, a noticeable dip in performance on the big TV stages, particularly under pressure, has prevented him from reaching the elite top 16. If he can conquer his finishing nerves, Nijman is poised for a meteoric rise, challenging the best in the world.
The Resilient Return of a Darts Prodigy
At just 25, Wessel Nijman has ample time to refine his game and ascend to the pinnacle of professional darts. Having successfully put a challenging match-fixing episode from 2020 behind him – an incident that resulted in a five-year ban, with half suspended – Nijman’s focus is now entirely on his future. Since his return, his performances have been nothing short of spectacular, hinting at a future among the sport’s elite.
Unrivaled Dominance on the Floor
When the cameras are off, Wessel Nijman is virtually unstoppable. His exceptional talent truly shines in the non-televised “floor” tournaments, also known as Players Championships. Since the end of August 2025, Nijman has achieved a remarkable 77% win rate across 100 matches, securing three ranking titles in that period with an impressive average of over 97. Even more remarkably, his average soars past 100 in his four finals, clearly demonstrating his ability to win tournaments when it matters.
His consistent high averages point to a player who should soon be challenging for a spot in the world’s top 16. On the floor, his win average further increases to an astonishing almost 82%. Nijman has clearly found a way to thrive in the demanding grind of these events, steadily building momentum in the shorter formats to consistently reach the crucial final stages of tournaments.
Nijman’s Impressive Player Championship Record (Last 14 Events):
- 3 Wins
- 1 Runner-up finish
- 2 Semi-final appearances
- 4 Quarter-final appearances
This record shows a player in control, who consistently improves as the day progresses. A formidable 15-game winning run at the end of October and early November stands as his most productive streak in recent memory.
The Big Stage Conundrum: Pressure vs. Performance
So, why isn’t Wessel Nijman a regular fixture on your TV screens? The answer lies in a noticeable disparity between his “floor” and “stage” performances. While his scoring power remains consistent, his win rate drops significantly to 55.6% when he steps off the floor and onto the televised stage.
The crucial insight? It’s not about scoring ability. Remarkably, his three-dart average on the big stage (96.96) is almost as good as his floor average (97.17). This indicates that his ability to hit big scores is not the issue.
The primary difference is pressure. Nijman himself acknowledges this, stating recently: “You cannot be playing like this on the floor without it happening on the big stages… I’m not really worried about not performing on the big stage; I think it’s just a matter of time.”
However, darts legend Michael van Gerwen offered a more blunt assessment that potentially sums up the issue:
“When it really matters, Wessel often fails. He’s a bit of a choker.”
The Finishing Touch: Nijman’s Achilles’ Heel
Van Gerwen’s ultra-honest words point to a critical area for Nijman: finishing under pressure. Despite his high scoring, Nijman has averaged over 100 in six of his recent losses. These defeats came against top-tier opponents like Luke Humphries, Jonny Clayton, Stephen Bunting, and, of course, van Gerwen himself. This highlights that while his scoring is elite, the crucial double-outs needed to close legs and matches are faltering at key moments.
Nijman’s finishing under pressure appears to be nuanced. In decisive final-leg deciders on the floor, he has won an impressive 71.4% of them since August. Yet, when he’s away from the floor – on the big stage – this crucial statistic plummets to a mere 20%. A stark and memorable example of this challenge was the seven missed darts to defeat Michael van Gerwen in the European Championship, a moment that perfectly encapsulated his stage struggles.
Glimmers of Stage Potential
Despite his overall record against Premier League opposition not being stellar, Nijman still holds a winning record over Gerwyn Price, a consistent performer in recent Player Championships. This includes a crucial last-leg decider victory in PC2. Furthermore, he has consistently performed well against other strong ‘next-tier’ players such as Ryan Searle and Damon Heta, demonstrating that he can handle tournament pressure and high-level competition when he’s in the zone.
The Path to the Top 16
Talk of Nijman breaking into the top 16 may seem premature to some, but it’s a very real possibility. The Dutchman’s current ranking is heavily weighted towards his exceptional ProTour performances. Therefore, one significant deep run in a major televised tournament would provide massive impetus to his world ranking. It’s as simple as that – assuming, of course, that such a run comes from correcting his pressure finishing.
What Lies Ahead for Wessel Nijman?
Wessel Nijman’s future in darts is not about scoring or consistency; he has both in abundance. Just ask Adam Paxton, who was on the receiving end of a staggering 116.87 average from Nijman in PC34. If Nijman can replicate his phenomenal floor finishing on the big stage, the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) could be looking at a player who can consistently challenge the very best in the sport.
His immediate goal will be to become the Netherlands’ number three, following Gian van Veen and Michael van Gerwen. Beyond that, he’ll aim to remove the ‘choker’ label from his compatriot’s viewpoint. It’s worth considering: is Wessel Nijman the best player in the world who hasn’t quite arrived yet, or the next one who’s about to explode onto the scene?
Only Wessel Nijman can truly answer that question. The recent data overwhelmingly suggests that an extrapolation of his current form will see a continued rise up the rankings. A ‘paradigm shift’ in his play on the stage – specifically, his finishing – will make that ascent truly meteoric. The irony is profound: if darts were played entirely on the floor, Wessel Nijman would already be a household name.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
