NIJMAN’S NERVES ARE KILLING TV FORM
15/10/2025 By Aaron Nijjar
WESSEL NIJMAN has been urged to show more personality on stage and control his nerves if he wants to make a bigger impact at the majors.
World No.37 Nijman has yet to reach a televised quarter-final in ELEVEN attempts.
The Dutchman was most recently dumped out in round one of the World Grand Prix after losing 2-1 to Rob Cross in Leicester earlier this month.
Former pro Andy Cornwall believes Nijman needs to find a bit more swagger to thrive under the lights.
He said on the Mission Darts podcast: “Wessel Nijman, who’s playing brilliant darts, clearly got nervous playing Rob Cross.
“Rob Cross was not playing good darts and still won that game.
“I used to get too nervous, to the point where my hand was shaking, a bit like Wessel was on Monday night.
“I saw his hand shaking. I thought, oh no, he’s gone past the point now. Now he’s too nervous.
“How I got over it was, I used to feel like I was showing off. So, I used to feel like, right, I want to hit a big score because I want to show off. I want everybody to take notice.
“I want people to be shouting or cheering behind me. I think Wessel’s missing a bit of that.
“He hits a 180, there’s no reaction. He hits a big finish; there’s no reaction. There’s not even a smile.
“He needs to get involved a bit more, and it might take the pressure off.
“I was feeling it for him. I was like you need to change here.
“Now look, he’s still new to TV events. He’s not played that many yet. I’m sure it’ll all change.”
Pundit Matt Edgar says Nijman can learn from the likes of Peter Wright, who uses his on-stage persona to handle pressure.
He added: “No, you need persona. Peter Wright is not who you see. I’m not 100% who you see.
“When I played, a lot of me was leaning into a third person, which is an exaggerated version of yourself.
“So does Peter Wright, a lot of people do. It’s where the nicknames can really work as well, where you lean into and you go, I’ve got to become primetime now.”
Nijman has been one of the standout players on the ProTour this year, winning Players Championship 30 and reaching two European Tour semi-finals.
Image by Taylor Lanning.
