Wesley Plaisier did not make his task easy in the first round of the 2025 championship PDC World Darts Championships on Monday afternoon. The Dutch debutant did not show his best performance at Alexandra Palace against Ryusei Azemoto.
Plaisier was broken in the first set, and moments later he also led 2-1 in sets. From the fourth set, however, the game swung in favor of Plaisier, who won 3-2 after five sets.
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“It was very difficult,” Plaisier later commented to the Viaplay camera. “I was very nervous for the first two sets. I’ve never been so nervous in my life. I’ve been through a lot and been on a lot of stages, but it was so overwhelming. I know it’s out there and people may say it’s not, but the World Cup is really different. My first three sets had a very bad effect on my mood, but fortunately after that my nerves subsided a bit.
This victory suits Plaisier very well, because the Dutchman is currently in the top 64 of the world rankings. If he maintains this position after the World Darts Championships, the prize money he has won this season will remain in the rankings next year. If he ends up outside the top 64, Plaisier will have to start over. While Plaisier himself is aware of the situation, he says it doesn’t matter. “More of the World Cup and what’s happening in the audience. It’s overwhelming,” he explains why he’s nervous. “It’s a step up.”
