Wessel Nijman

Wessel Nijman
Nijman at the 2025 World Matchplay
Personal information
Born	(2000-06-26) 26 June 2000 (age 25) [1] Uitgeest, Netherlands
Darts information
Playing darts since	2017
Darts	23g Mission Signature
Laterality	Right-handed
Walk-on music	"Summer of '69" by Bryan Adams
Organisation (see split in darts)
PDC	2016–2020, 2023– (Tour Card: 2024–)
Current world ranking	( PDC ) 39 1 (26 August 2025) [2]
WDF major events – best performances
World Masters	Last 272: 2018
PDC premier events – best performances
World Championship	Last 64: 2025
World Matchplay	Last 16: 2025
UK Open	Last 96: 2024, 2025
Grand Slam	Group Stage: 2024
PC Finals	Last 64: 2024
World Series Finals	Last 16: 2024
Other tournament wins
Players Championships 2024 PC24 Youth Events PDC Development Tour (x12) 2018, 2020, 2023 (x3), 2024 (x7)

Wessel Nijman (born 26 June 2000) is a Dutch professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. He won his first ranking PDC title at 2024 Players Championship 24.

Following a match-fixing scandal in 2020 that saw him banned from the sport for two and a half years, Nijman returned to competitive darts in 2023. He finished third on the 2023 PDC Development Tour ranking, which led to him making his PDC World Championship debut at the 2024 edition, as well as earning a PDC Tour Card. Nijman has made two European Tour semi-finals in 2025.

In his youth career, Nijman won twelve PDC Development Tours, topped the 2024 Development Tour ranking, and reached the semi-finals at the 2023 PDC World Youth Championship, making him one of the most successful players in the history of the PDC’s youth system.

Career

Early career

Nijman reached the final of the 2017 WDF World Youth Cup's boys singles event, defeating Ireland's Keane Barry and Iran's Amirali-Mirzaei Goodarzi on his way. He lost 6–3 in legs to compatriot Justin van Tergouw in the final, ^[3] who he partnered with to win the boys pairs event. ^[4] In 2018, at the age of 17, he won his first PDC Development Tour title in the second event of the year by defeating Bradley Brooks 5–4 in the final. ^[5]

Nijman was able to qualify for the 2019 Czech Darts Open in Prague as an Associate Member qualifier, ^[6] but was beaten 6–0 by Corey Cadby in the first round. ^[7] He also qualified for the 2019 Gibraltar Darts Trophy, where he won 6–5 against Darren Webster before losing to Mensur Suljović. ^[8] Nijman also won the fourth Development Tour event in 2020. ^[9]

Suspension

In 2020, the International Betting Integrity Association and the Darts Regulation Authority were alerted to suspicious betting patterns on matches in April and May during the Modus Live League, an online darts tournament series held amid the COVID-19 pandemic, in which Nijman was involved. ^[10] He was suspended from attending or participating in events sanctioned by the Darts Regulation Authority in August 2020 after admitting to match-fixing, which he called a "stupid mistake". ^[11] A hearing by the Darts Regulation Authority's Disciplinary Committee took place in October, where Nijman's deliberate 4–0 loss to David Evans on 14 May resulted in him being banned from the sport for five years, with two and a half years of that ban being suspended after he took part in player education and anti-corruption measures. He was also ordered to pay £2,455.74. ^[12] Nijman accepted the ruling, stating that although he was put under pressure by others to lose the match, he took full responsibility for his actions. His ban ended on 18 February 2023. ^[13]

Nijman featured in an education film released by the Professional Players Federation and the Professional Darts Players Association in June 2022, where he gave his personal testimony and discussed the repercussions of partaking in match-fixing. ^[14]

2023

Nijman returned to competitive darts in 2023. In March, he won a national title in the Netherlands at the Rivierenland Open in Wijchen. ^[15] He competed in the 2023 PDC Development Tour series, winning three titles in events 6, 12 and 19. ^{[16] [17] [18]} He qualified for the 2024 PDC World Darts Championship by placing third on the 2023 Development Tour Order of Merit. His ranking also secured him a two-year PDC Tour Card for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. ^[19]

Nijman reached the semi-finals at the 2023 PDC World Youth Championship, defeating Nathan Rafferty and Owen Bates before losing 6–5 to Gian van Veen. ^[20] On 19 December, Nijman made his World Championship debut, ^[21] but he lost to Steve Beaton 3–1 in sets. ^[22]

2024

In his full debut year on the PDC Pro Tour, Nijman qualified for four European Tours. ^[1] At the sixth European Tour event of the year, the Baltic Sea Darts Open in May, he achieved a shock 6–3 victory over Luke Littler, ^[23] before losing to Michael van Gerwen 6–2 in the second round. ^[24]

Nijman topped the 2024 PDC Development Tour series Order of Merit, which qualified him for the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts. ^[25] He won seven titles over the course of 24 events, including a pair of back-to-back titles: he won events 16 and 17 in July, ^[26] followed by events 21 and 22 in October. ^[27]

On 1 October, Nijman won his first senior PDC title at Players Championship 24, defeating Stephen Bunting 8–5 in the final. ^{[28] [29]} Later that month, he competed at the Grand Slam and despite good performances, he finished bottom of his group after losses to Bunting, Josh Rock and Gian van Veen. ^[30]

2025

Nijman entered the 2025 World Championship with high expectations, becoming as high as sixth favourite to win the tournament by bookmakers due to his good form in 2024. He narrowly defeated South African qualifier Cameron Carolissen 3–2 in the first round. ^[31] He was eliminated in the second round following a 3–0 loss to Joe Cullen. ^[32] Nijman qualified for the World Matchplay for the first time and defeated former champion Nathan Aspinall 10–6 in the first round. ^[33] He lost 11–5 to James Wade in the second round. ^[34]

World Championship results

PDC

• 2024: First round (lost to Steve Beaton 1–3)
• 2025: Second round (lost to Joe Cullen 0–3)

Performance timeline

^[35]

Tournament	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
PDC Ranked televised events
World Championship	DNQ			Suspended			1R	2R
World Masters	DNQ			Suspended			DNQ	Prel.
UK Open	DNQ			Suspended		DNQ	3R	3R
World Matchplay	DNQ			Suspended		DNQ		2R
World Grand Prix	DNQ			Suspended		DNQ
European Championship	DNQ			Suspended		DNQ
Grand Slam	DNQ			Suspended		DNQ	RR
Players Championship Finals	DNQ			Suspended		DNQ	1R
PDC Non-ranked televised events
World Series Finals	Did not participate			Suspended			2R
World Youth Championship	RR	3R	Suspended			SF	QF
Career statistics
Season-end ranking (PDC)	NR	157	Suspended			149	55

PDC European Tour ^[35]

Season	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14
2019	EDO DNQ	GDC DNQ	GDG DNP	GDO DNP	ADO DNP	EDG DNP	DDM DNQ	DDO DNQ	CDO 1R	ADC DNP	EDM DNP	IDO DNQ	GDT 2R
2024	BDO DNQ	GDG DNQ	IDO DNQ	EDG DNQ	ADO 2R	BSD 2R	DDC DNQ	EDO DNQ	GDC DNQ	FDT DNQ	HDT QF	SDT 3R	CDO DNQ
2025	BDO 2R	EDT 3R	IDO QF	GDG 1R	ADO 3R	EDG 2R	DDC SF	EDO SF	BSD 3R	FDT 1R	CDO	HDT	SDT	GDC

PDC Players Championships ^[35]

Season	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34
2019 [nb 1]	Did not participate																				HIL 1R	HIL 3R	Did not participate						BAR 1R	BAR 3R
2024	WIG 2R	WIG 2R	LEI 1R	LEI 3R	HIL 1R	HIL 1R	LEI 2R	LEI 1R	HIL 3R	HIL 2R	HIL 3R	HIL 3R	MIL 4R	MIL 1R	MIL F	MIL 2R	MIL 2R	MIL 1R	MIL 3R	WIG 2R	WIG 3R	MIL 1R	MIL 4R	WIG W	WIG 1R	WIG 4R	WIG SF	WIG 4R	LEI 2R	LEI QF
2025	WIG 4R	WIG 4R	ROS 4R	ROS 4R	LEI 2R	LEI 2R	HIL 1R	HIL 1R	LEI 4R	LEI 1R	LEI 4R	LEI 3R	ROS QF	ROS 3R	HIL 1R	HIL 1R	LEI 4R	LEI 1R	LEI SF	LEI 2R	LEI 2R	HIL 1R	HIL SF	MIL 2R	MIL QF	HIL	HIL	LEI	LEI	LEI	WIG	WIG	WIG	WIG

1. Not a Tour card holder

Performance Table Legend
W	Won the tournament	F	Finalist	SF	Semifinalist	QF	Quarterfinalist	#R RR Prel.	Lost in # round Round-robin Preliminary round	DQ	Disqualified
DNQ	Did not qualify	DNP	Did not participate	WD	Withdrew	NH	Tournament not held			NYF	Not yet founded

References

1. "Wessel Nijman". Mastercaller.
2. "PDC Order of Merit". PDPA. 26 August 2025. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
3. "Results of WDF World Cup Youth Boys Singles 2017". Mastercaller. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
4. "WDF World Cup Youth Boys Pairs 2017". World Darts Federation. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
5. Allen, Dave (14 April 2018). "2018 PDC Unicorn Development Tour 1-2". PDC . Retrieved 16 January 2025.
6. Allen, Dave (23 May 2019). "Harris & De Decker Amongst ET Qualifiers". Professional Darts Corporation. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
7. "Corey Cadby enjoys dream European Tour debut on day one of Czech Darts Open". Sporting Life. 29 June 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
8. "PDC Gibraltar Darts Trophy 27/09/2019 - 29/09/2019". Darts Database. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
9. Phillips, Josh (1 March 2020). "Meikle and Nijman land Development Tour titles". PDC . Retrieved 16 January 2025.
10. "Wessel Nijman and Kyle McKinstry suspended with match-fixing cases to answer". Sky Sports. 19 August 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
11. "Kyle McKinstry & Wessel Nijman suspended over match-fixing claims". BBC Sport. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
12. "DRA Statement on Nijman". Darts Regulation Authority. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
13. "Wessel Nijman handed five-year darts ban for betting and anti-corruption breaches". BBC Sport. 28 October 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
14. "PPF Betting Education Wessel Nijman". Professional Players Federation. 30 June 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
15. Bus, Patrick (5 March 2023). "Wessel Nijman keert terug met nationale titel in Wijchen" [Wessel Nijman returns with a national title in Wijchen]. Darts Actueel (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 March 2025.
16. Gorton, Josh (28 April 2023). "Nijman & Bialecki prevail as latest Winmau Development Tour weekend begins". PDC . Retrieved 16 January 2025.
17. Gorton, Josh (9 June 2023). "Nijman secures second Development Tour crown of 2023 in Hildesheim". PDC . Retrieved 16 January 2025.
18. Gorton, Josh (15 July 2023). "Nijman and Rafferty celebrate Development Tour wins in Leicester". PDC . Retrieved 16 January 2025.
19. Gorton, Josh (19 August 2023). "Van Veen tops Development Tour Order of Merit as 2023 season concludes". PDC . Retrieved 16 January 2025.
20. Gorton, Josh (20 August 2023). "Van Veen & Littler to contest 2023 Winmau World Youth Championship final". Professional Darts Corporation. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
21. Wood, Kieran (19 December 2023). "They showed the evidence they had and I basically couldn't do anything Wessel Nijman candid about past match fixing suspension". Darts News. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
22. Chiu, Nigel (20 December 2023). "World Darts Championship: Michael van Gerwen cruises to victory as veteran Steve Beaton also wins ahead of retirement in 2024". Sky Sports. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
23. "Luke Littler dumped out of Baltic Sea Open in shock defeat to Wessel Nijman". Sky Sports . 10 May 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
24. Gorton, Josh (11 May 2024). "Van Gerwen & Humphries take centre stage on Day Two in Kiel". Professional Darts Corporation. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
25. Gorton, Josh (16 October 2024). "De Decker & Nijman confirm Mr Vegas Grand Slam qualification". Professional Darts Corporation. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
26. Gorton, Josh (26 July 2024). "Nijman wins back-to-back Development Tour titles in Milton Keynes". Professional Darts Corporation. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
27. Wagner, Connor (12 October 2024). "Nijman wins back-to-back Development Tour titles in Wigan". Professional Darts Corporation . Retrieved 12 October 2024.
28. "Darts results: Wessel Nijman claims maiden PDC title at Players Championship 24". Sporting Life. 1 October 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
29. "Wessel Nijman beats Stephen Bunting 8-5 to win first Players Championship title". BBC Sport . 1 October 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
30. Wood, Kieran (12 November 2024). "Gian van Veen edges Wessel Nijman in one of the greatest Grand Slam matches ever after Luke Littler completes perfect group stage". Darts News. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
31. Hartman, Tim (20 December 2024). "Wát een ontlading bij Wessel Nijman, Nederlander ontsnapt aan WK-exit: 'Wat een getouwtrek'" [What a relief for Wessel Nijman, Dutchman escapes World Championship exit: 'What a tug of war']. AD (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 March 2025.
32. Stafford, Ali; Wellens, Meg (22 December 2024). "World Darts Championship: What caused Joe Cullen's post-match outburst after winning start at the Alexandra Palace?". Sky Sports. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
33. Wellens, Megan (20 July 2025). "World Matchplay 2025: Reigning champion Luke Humphries suffers shock upset loss to Gian van Veen as Nathan Aspinall also loses on opening night". Sky Sports. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
34. Mallows, Tom (22 July 2025). "Bunting battles past Anderson to reach last eight". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
35. "Wessel Nijman Results". Click On Darts. Retrieved 23 January 2024.

External links

• Wessel Nijman player profile at Darts Orakel
• Player profile for Wessel Nijman from Dartsdatabase
• Wessel Nijman player profile at Mastercaller