Nijman won the first two sets in the best-of-three match, and yet Carolissen was not intimidated by the north London stage.
He returned the favor by winning six of eight games, which equalized the match and forced a decision.
The crowd offered support to Carolissen by singing Waka Waka (This Time for Africa), a song by Shakira that was the anthem of the 2010 FIFA World Cup held in South Africa.
“You know the audience is going to be roaring,” Carolissen said.
“I always tell the guys at home, ‘When you get on stage, that’s the moment you can unleash your inner character.’
“When you do this, you will feel very comfortable. If you want to scream a little, do it.”
He may have been outplayed, but Carolissen finished the match with a higher three-over average than his Dutch opponent, as well as more scores of both 100+ and 140+.
It was his first experience in front of a full house at the World Championships, considering he made his debut in December 2020 in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic.
On this occasion, he received what he calls a “freebie” from his first-round opponent Martijn Kleermaker tested positive for Covid-19. Carolissen, who received a walkover, were then defeated 3-1 by Danny Noppert in the second round.
“To come back to the Palace after four years and experience the crowds and being in such an environment is absolutely amazing,” the South African said.
“Playing here is every darts player’s dream.
“As much as I wanted to win against Wessel, I think my performance was enough to let the world know that Cameron Carolissen is here.
“I am satisfied with the performance. I think I’ll be able to go home to my family for Christmas and just enjoy the sun in Cape Town.”
