Wessel Nijman was crowned the winner of the Elten Safety Shoes European Darts Trophy with a history-making win over Gerwyn Price in Germany.
The Dutchman, 25, beat a trio of Premier League stars including Josh Rock and Gian van Veen on Sunday to scoop the £35,000 top prize and catapult himself into the world’s top 20.
He also remarkably registered five consecutive ton-plus averages in Göttingen, including in the 8-3 victory over Price in the final.
After beating Mike De Decker on Saturday, Nijman began Sunday’s action with a 6-1 takedown of Van Veen, averaging 112.87, his highest on the big stage.
He took this form into the quarter-finals, beating Rock 6-2 and averaging 106 before blowing away fellow countryman Niels Zonneveld 7-1 in the semi-final with a 110.41 average.
That set up a final showdown with Price, who was gunning to become the second player to win 10 European titles after Michael van Gerwen, who suffered a shock exit in the earlier rounds.
But Nijman overpowered his opponent, with a brilliant 11-darter along the way.
‘There are no words to describe how I’m feeling’
Following the win, Nijman, who averaged 100.8 against Price, said: “I think there are no words to describe how I’m feeling right now.”
“I felt so great all day long. I think you saw when I played Gian, Josh and Niels, I played so well.
“I thought to myself: ‘This could be the day you win a title’, and I’m so happy I did.”
Nijman celebrates with the trophy (Pic: Paul Targyik/PDC Europe)
He added: “I didn’t need to prove anything to myself. I needed to prove to other people that I can play like this on the big stage.
“I’m doing it now in a European Tour event and I hope I can do it in the biggest major events, so I can show the world that I’m capable of winning any event there is.
“The main goal this year was to get into the top 16 and be a seeded player in major tournaments, and I think this is a big step towards that.”
World champion Luke Littler was absent from the European Darts Trophy having previously hit out at the hostile receptions he has received in Germany.
Following his defeat on Saturday to Niko Springer, Stephen Bunting said he was left “really hurt” by the booing, which even led to referee Huw Ware telling the crowd to “shut up”.
European Darts Trophy: Sunday’s results
Nijman was in imperious form throughout the tournament (pic: Paul Targyik/PDC Europe)
Final
- Wessel Nijman 8-3 Gerwyn Price
Semi-finals
- Wessel Nijman 7-1 Niels Zonneveld
- Gerwyn Price 7-5 Damon Heta
Quarter-finals
- Richard Veenstra 2-6 Niels Zonneveld
- Josh Rock 2-6 Wessel Nijman
- Niko Springer 5-6 Damon Heta
- Gerwyn Price 6-3 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Round three
- Richard Veenstra 6-3 Ryan Searle
- Niels Zonneveld 6-4 Jermaine Wattimena
- Josh Rock 6-5 Chris Dobey
- Wessel Nijman 6-1 Gian van Veen
- Niko Springer 6-5 Ross Smith
- Damon Heta 6-3 Kevin Doets
- Gerwyn Price 6-5 Danny Noppert
- Mensur Suljovic 1-6 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Luke Humphries and Luke Littler are among players in action on Week 7 of Premier League Darts at 7pm on Sky Sports Action. Stream darts and more top sport with NOW.
