NIJMAN TIPPED TO BE NEXT NEW MAJOR CHAMPION

WESSEL NIJMAN will be the next new major champion, according to ex-pro Matt Edgar.

The Dutchman underlined his potential by clinching his maiden European Tour title in Göttingen on Sunday, averaging over 100 in five of his six matches. 

World No.20 Nijman has been in red-hot form this year, already landing Players Championship Two and reaching another final on the floor. 

However, Nijman has yet to carry that consistency onto the big stage, still searching for a first televised quarter-final appearance.  

But Edgar believes a change in lifestyle could be the key to unlocking Nijman’s full potential at the PDC’s biggest events. 

He said on Edgar TV: “At the start of this year, I said Wessel Nijman will have a good year. There was one thing that stood out for me with Wessel, which is really interesting. 

“That is the fact he is now a full-time darts player. He was working alongside things, now he is taking it more seriously in a professional capacity. 

“That might be where we see an improvement in regards to the TV form, because at the moment you look at Wessel Nijman and don’t see someone who is world No.20. 

“That’s because his best run at a TV event is the last 16 at the World Series Finals, which is non-ranked. 

“He never really got going at the World Championship — it was a surprise defeat for sure. 

“What I am seeing right now is improvement in numbers, a win that he has never had before on the big stage. 

“A change in lifestyle, consistency here in regards to top 16 performances. 

“The numbers and the evidence here stacks up to the fact that Wessel Nijman could quite well be the next new major champion.” 

Nijman is posting career-high rolling averages across all competitions this year, with 97.72 on the Players Championship circuit, 100.03 on the European Tour and 97.79 on TV. 

Former Tour Card holder Edgar believes it’s only a matter of time before these performances start translating into big results at ranked televised tournaments. 

He added: “Improvement all round. European Tour, yes, there is not much volume in there, but that has gone up. 

“He has stayed very stable and good in regards to what we are getting on the ProTour. 

“With those numbers and averages in regards to TV, you would imagine that is going to start getting wins sooner rather than later. 

“But the main thing is here, we can see progression and sustainability across Wessel’s game.”

Image by Taylor Lanning.