Wessel Nijman is one of a handful of incredibly exciting young players making their way toward the top of the PDC Order of Merit.
The 24-year-old Dutchman has been around the PDC Tour since 2019, but this year he’s really come into his own.
A big scorer, and a quick thrower, Nijman has emerged as a real one to watch heading into the World Darts Championship.
Here is everything you need to know about Wessel Nijman.
What darts to Wessel Nijman use?
Nijman uses Mission Signature arrows on the PDC Tour.
What is Wessel Nijman’s walk-on music?
Nijman enters arenas to Bryan Adams’ seminal 1985 single ‘Summer of 69’.
Wessel Nijman’s suspension for match-fixing
In 2020 during a remote match for Modus’s ‘A Night at the Darts’, Nijman was caught match-fixing after his 4-0 defeat to David Evans.
The Dutchman was handed a five-year ban by the The Darts Regulation Authority, half of which was suspended.
Nijman returned in 2023 and made his Alexandra Palace debut at the World Darts Championship in a losing effort to Steve Beaton.
Has Wessel Nijman won a senior PDC title?
Nijman won his maiden trophy in the PDC on October 1, 2024 at Players Championship 24 in Wigan.
The 24-year-old defeated Krzysztof Ratajski, Gary Anderson, and Stephen Bunting on his way to his first-ever ranked title.
Wessel Nijman’s unlikely Grand Slam of Darts run
Nijman was drawn into the ‘Group of Death’ at the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton alongside Gian Van Veen, Bunting, and Josh Rock.
Nijman played extraordinary during his group-stage matches, but bizarrely lost every single match despite hitting averages of 106.51, 105.93, and 111.10.
Speaking on Sky Sports, pundit and former pro Wayne 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.”
Wessel Nijman’s 2025 World Championship draw
Considering the Dutchman is ranked outside the top 32 and it guaranteed to face a seed in the second-round of the World Darts Championship, the draw has been very favourable to the Dutchman.
Nijman has been drawn against South African thrower Cameron Carolissen, who is making his first World Championship appearance in three years.
Should Nijman come through the match he’ll face out-of-form Joe Cullen who has been slipping down the rankings for most of 2024.