NIJMAN STORMS TO EUROPEAN DARTS TROPHY GLORY
15/03/2026 By Aaron Nijjar
By Aaron Nijjar
WESSEL NIJMAN insists he belongs on the TV stage after landing the European Darts Trophy title.
The Dutchman went on to claim his maiden Euro Tour crown in Göttingen, pocketing the £35,000 top prize as he dispatched Gerwyn Price 8-3 in the final.
World No.24 Nijman averaged a stunning 110.41 to thrash Niels Zonneveld 7–1 in the semi-final, having earlier seen off Josh Rock 6–2 with a 106.05 average in the quarter-final.
Nijman admitted he now wants to prove he can deliver the same performances on the sport’s biggest stages as he targets a place in the world’s top 16.
He said: “There are no words to describe how I feel right now. But I feel so great all day long. I think you saw when I played Gian [van Veen], Niels [Zonneveld] and Josh [Rock].
“I played really well and thought to myself this could be a day when you win the title. I am so happy I did.
“Since I have stopped working I feel so confident when I am standing at the oche because I am practising more now. I have never put this many hours on the board.
“For me I didn’t need to prove it to myself, I need to prove to other people I can play like this on TV stages.
“I am doing it now at a Euro Tour event. I hope I can do it at a serious major event, then I can show the world I am capable of winning any event.
“The main goal is to get into the top 16 so I am in the second round of every Euro Tour event.
“Being a seeded player in the major tournaments, this is a big step towards that. Then we will set a new goal and talk again.”
Price revealed fatigue had begun to kick in by the time the final came around after a long day at the oche.
He added: “Every time I play Wessel he plays brilliantly against me. I lost to him in a ProTour final as well so fair play.
“It’s been a long day. Playing the fourth game is tough — you are not sure whether to go back and chill or stay.
“I have been here since 11am so I didn’t get to go back and chill out. I ran out of gas in the end.
“I didn’t really play my best in the final but take nothing away from him — he was fantastic.
“Fair play, he has been playing brilliantly today and all year but I will get my own back.”
Image by PDC Europe
