Cameron Carolissen: South African eyes ‘bigger picture’ for darts on continent

Nijman took the first two sets in the best-of five encounter, yet Carolissen was not overawed by the stage in north London.

He battled back, winning six out of eight legs to level the match and force a decider.

The crowd offered their backing to Carolissen by singing Waka Waka (This Time for Africa), the Shakira song which was the anthem for the 2010 Fifa World Cup staged in South Africa.

“You know the crowd is going to be buzzing,” Carolissen said.

“I always tell boys back home: ‘When you get up on stage, that’s your moment where you can let your inner character out.’

“Once you do that, you’ll be so much comfortable. If you want to give a little bit of a roar, do it.”

He may have been defeated but Carolissen finished with a higher three-dart 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 Championship, given his debut in December 2020 came in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic.

On that occasion he received what he describes as “a freebie” when his first-round opponent Martijn Kleermaker tested positive for Covid-19. Carolissen, handed a walkover, was subsequently beaten 3-1 by Danny Noppert in the second round.

“To be back at the Palace after four years and to experience the crowd, to be in such an environment, is absolutely amazing,” the South African said.

“To play here is every darts player’s dream.

“Although I wanted to win so bad against Wessel, I think my performance was enough for the world to know that Cameron Carolissen is here.

“I’m happy with the performance. I think I can go back home to my family at Christmas and I can just enjoy the sunshine in Cape Town.”