The sporting world of darts has a new giant-killer, and he arrives straight from the warehouse. Wesley Plaisier, the 35-year-old Dutchman who balances professional darts with driving a forklift truck, has produced the biggest shock of the PDC World Darts Championship so far by eliminating former world champion Gerwyn Price.
From Warehouse Floor to World Stage
Plaisier's journey to the third round at London's Alexandra Palace is a remarkable tale of dedication. Holding a PDC Tour card for just one year, he described his straight-sets victory over Price as the greatest of his career. "I still can't believe it, I am so over the moon," he said. "My biggest victory ever. I don't know how I did it, I was so nervous."
Despite his rising profile, Plaisier continues his day job, though with considerable flexibility. "I still work as a forklift truck driver but my work is cooperating really good," he explained. "They don't have a problem with me going to the darts. If I have to play darts, I can go whenever I want." His routine involves heading to work when not competing, then practising darts at home afterwards.
A Wide-Open Path and Life-Changing Prize Money
The tournament draw has now opened up invitingly for the towering Dutchman. His next challenge is Poland's Krzysztof Ratajski on Saturday afternoon. A win there could set up a fourth-round clash with either Andrew Gilding or Luke Woodhouse. Incredibly, a potential quarter-final showdown with reigning champion Luke Littler is now a tangible prospect.
This run has already transformed Plaisier's finances. He has secured a minimum of £35,000 in prize money, comfortably the largest payday of his career. Reaching the fourth round would boost that to £60,000, with a quarter-final spot worth a staggering £100,000. Such sums may soon force a reconsideration of his dual-role career.
A Proven Talent Finally Shining on the Biggest Stage
While his run seems like a bolt from the blue, Plaisier's talent has been evident for years. Before earning his Tour Card via the Challenge Tour in 2024, he was a dominant force on the WDF circuit, winning the prestigious World Masters title in both 2022 and 2024.
He has also shown he can mix it with the elite. In 2022, as a top-up player at the German Grand Prix, he beat Joe Cullen and Dirk van Duijvenbode. The following year, he defeated Luke Humphries at the German Open. Most notably, in 2024, he became only the fourth player without a Tour Card to win a PDC tournament, triumphing at Players Championship 28.
His striking physical presence—he is thought to be at least 6ft tall—adds to his imposing aura at the oche. Now, with his stunning victory over Price, Wesley Plaisier has announced himself as a serious contender, proving that sometimes the most compelling sports stories come from the most unexpected places.
