Wessel Nijman’s Grand Slam of Darts exit will go down as one of the most bizarre stories in PDC history.
The Dutchman was in inspired form in the ‘Group of Death’, averaging 108 across his three games and winning eleven legs.
Despite his sizzling form, the Dutchman left the Wolverhampton event with nothing to show for it. He lost every game and finished bottom of his group under Gian Van Veen, Stephen Bunting, and Josh Rock.
The World No. 62’s performance will go down as one of the unluckiest sequence of events in darting history, but Sky Sports pundit Wayne Mardle has tipped the 24-year-old for success.
Wessel Nijman ‘will be a World Champion’, says Mardle
Nijman averaged 111 in his final match against Van Veen, only to miss out on points with a last-leg decider in one of the best group-stage games in the Grand Slam ever.
Despite his rock bottom status, Mardle has tipped the Dutch thrower for the biggest of successes in December.
Speaking on stage during Sky Sports’ coverage, Mardle said: “I feel sorry for Wessel Nijman. He’s done nothing wrong. He missed a couple of doubles. He has played so well and got nothing from it.
“If he plays like that for the next couple of months he will be a world champion. If he goes away from here feeling beaten – don’t.”
Nijman has shown he can compete with the PDC elite by winning the Players Championship 24 in October, beating Bunting in the final.
Fans react to Gian Van Veen vs Wessel Nijman
Van Veen and Nijman’s collision in the Grand Slam truly was one for the ages as the two hot shots superbly showcased the future of darts within a frantic nine legs.
Fans on social media absolutely loved the young guns showcase and took to X to celebrate their achievements.
One fan wrote: “In Gian van Veen and Wessel Nijman, you have two young darts superstars” while another said: “Van Veen and Nijman taking lumps out of each other for 10 minutes, I love darts!”
Another said: “Why couldn’t that match between Gian Van Veen and Wessel Nijman have been a long format match in the latter stages? Spellbinding stuff from both.”
Van Veen will play Ryan Joyce in the second-round knockout stages of the Grand Slam of Darts.