WESSEL NIJMAN is hoping lessons will be learned from his “stupid” match-fixing mistake – as he makes the most of his second chance.
In October 2020, the Dutchman was hit with a five-year ban after being found guilty of fixing a match in Covid during the amateur Modus Icons of Darts at Home series.
Follow all the action from the World Darts Championship as it happens with SunSport’s LIVE blog
GettyWessel Nijman is back playing at the highest level after a match-fixing ban[/caption]
GettyThe Dutchman was slapped with a suspension after admitting fixing a match in 2020[/caption]
Someone from “a weird Instagram account” contacted him via a friend “to earn some easy money” and he agreed to NOT win any legs – he lost 4-0 – for the sum of £8,300.
But 2-and-a-half years of the ban was suspended on the condition that Nijman, who expressed “early and full admission of guilt”, engaged in player education and anti-corruption measures.
Nijman – who paid £2,455.74 towards the costs of the hearing – was free to play from February 2023 and the electrician is appearing in his second game on the Ally Pally stage.
The world No. 58 is a full-time sparky and leaned on his work during his enforced time off.
He said: “It was one of the worst times of my life. But in the end, I got my life rolling again.
“I started working. Then the ban was nearly over. I tried my luck on the PDC Development Tour. Now we are here.
“The lowest point was when I told family and friends what I did. Then you get all the DRA [Darts Regulation Authority] stuff. It takes really long.
“You have hearings. Dutch police got involved. So, when it got out, we had already known about it for a few months.
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
“I don’t concern myself about what people say about me.
“The people who say s**t things about me don’t know me and I don’t know them.
“The people who I know and love me were the ones who supported me and are still supporting me right now.
“It’s more like I have nothing to lose right now. It was still a stupid thing to do. I don’t want to talk good about it.
“I hope no one else does the same. We see some players make the same mistake. It’s a very valuable lesson for everyone.
“The s**t thing is I was the only paying for it.”
World Darts Championship – top stories
READ MORE on all the build-up to the Ally Pally extravaganza…
All the info:
All the action as it happens in our LIVE BLOG
Everything you need to know about the Ally Pally extravaganza
How much prize money can be won?
What is the format for the tournament?
Are tickets still available and how much do they cost?
When is Littler playing?
Why isn’t Russ Bray refereeing?
Who are the Sky Sports presenters and pundits?
News, features and interviews:
Mardle to take step back after tragic death of wife Donna
Luke Humphries’ stunning FOUR STONE weight loss
Emma Paton reveals rise as Queen of Darts
Darts WAGs – from former walk-on girl to childhood sweetheart
The biggest scandals in darts – from cough-gate to sexting
Littler loses record to breakthrough star
Peter Wright ‘lost it’ in emotional moment with daughter
Nijman, whose mum is a close presence at darts events, was the joint-seventh pre-tournament favourite at 28-1.
He starts his World Championship bid this afternoon against South African qualifier Cameron Carolissen, with the winner taking on No. 23 seed Joe Cullen on Sunday.
Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
