Any other year, Wessel Nijman would’ve been one of the biggest stories in darts.
The Dutchman has enjoyed a remarkable debut year on the PDC tour. He’s already up to world number 58, and Nijman has been tipped to make a run at the World Championships.
Unfortunately for Nijman, there’s another young player who has stolen the spotlight this year.
Luke Littler is the biggest name in darts right now, and while Nijman has been tipped to rival Littler in the coming years, he’s not receiving anywhere near as much publicity.
Speaking to Online Darts, Nijman has been discussing his first year on the PDC tour, and his fellow debutants.
Nijman says that he has been one of the best new players in the PDC this year, but he concluded that Littler is simply on another planet.
- READ MORE: Who is Wessel Nijman? Meet the World No. 58 who could take the World Darts Championship by storm
Luke Littler is on another planet
Nijman spoke highly of The Nuke.
Nijman said that Littler is on another planet compared to his fellow new Tour Card holders, while surmising that he’s very happy with his first year in the PDC.
“Yeah it has been an amazing year from all of the new players on the tour. I’ve been one of the best, but Luke is on another planet, I’m very happy with this year, yeah,” Nijman said.
Luke Littler’s debut year analysed
Nijman says that Littler has been on another planet this year, and he’s not wrong.
Indeed, this has been arguably the most impressive debut year in the PDC since Raymond van Barneveld back in the mid-2000s.
| Luke Littler’s debut year in the PDC | |
| TV titles | 7 |
| Highest average | 114 |
| Nine darters | 5 |
| World Ranking | 4 |
Nijman himself deserves a lot of praise for his performances this year.
The Dutchman has been a winner on the Pro Tour, and he was very nearly a two-time winner, but he lost his another final appearance, narrowly, to Luke Littler.
Nijman could have a real run at the World Championships as the draw has been kind to the Dutchman, and there’s every chance he progresses into the quarter-finals at least.
| Wessel Nijman’s potential World Championship run | Round |
| Cameron Carolissen | Round One |
| Joe Cullen | Round Two |
| Gerwyn Price | Round Three |
| Jonny Clayton | Round Four |
| Michael Smith | Quarter-Final |
| Michael van Gerwen | Semi-Final |
Nijman and Littler are two of the brightest young names in darts, and these two will collect plenty of trophies in the coming years.