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'I've even had death threats' - Jermaine Wattimena on difficult relationship with media early in his career

Originally posted on Dartsnews.com | Last updated Aug 7, 2025 4:43 PM ET

Jermaine Wattimena was the latest guest on the Darts Draait Door podcast from Sportnieuws.nl, joining hosts Vincent van der Voort and Damian Vlottes for an in-depth discussion on his career, development, and the emotional ride of life on the oche.

The Dutchman has never been shy about showing emotion on stage. “Sport is emotion and passion. You see that with Jermaine,” Van der Voort said. “Whether it’s the last 16 or the final, he gives it everything.”

Wattimena, who recently claimed his maiden PDC title at Players Championship 23, admitted the moment carried deep emotional weight. “I was going through a down period. I’d already lost a couple of finals. At some point, you let go of something you’ve been carrying for a long time.”

The conversation also turned to Niels Zonneveld, who recently lost a Players Championship final to Sebastian Bialecki. “He missed three darts to lead 7-5. If those go in, he probably wins it,” Van der Voort noted. Despite the defeat, Zonneveld’s strong showing has put him in a promising position for World Grand Prix qualification.

Yet, Wattimena pointed out how difficult it is to stay at the top under the current Euro Tour structure. “If you’re not automatically in, it’s easy to fall out quickly,” he explained. Van der Voort added, “Zonneveld is having a good year, but it shows how hard it is to really break through.”

World Championship Streak and the Matchplay Challenge

Wattimena has featured at every PDC World Championship since 2015 — a consistency Vlottes was keen to praise. “That’s quite something, even if a few of those appearances were under the radar. A lot of players miss one here and there.”

But Wattimena admits that qualifying for the likes of the World Matchplay or Grand Prix is another level entirely. “To reach the World Championship, you need to be in the top 40 on the main or Pro Tour Order of Merit. But for the Matchplay, it’s the top 16 — that’s the elite.”

Reflecting on his recent Matchplay performance against Luke Littler, Wattimena was honest in his assessment. “You were 7-2 up, but he came back. Do you feel like you let it slip?” Van der Voort asked. Wattimena replied: “Maybe I’m still missing something to make myself complete. But Littler just played really well.”

That match was part of a resurgence for Wattimena after a tough stretch. “I started playing a lot better after that dip,” he said. Van der Voort agreed, pointing to one standout performance: “Your match against Humphries at the European Championship might’ve been your best ever. You just outplayed him, and he was the man to beat at the time.”

A technical adjustment played a key role in the turnaround. “I changed the angle of my flight, which gives me more scoring power. It helps me stay consistent, even when the throw isn’t perfect.” Wattimena also credited his improved mental game. “I used to rush things — especially on doubles. Now I take more time, and that’s made a big difference.”

Media Scrutiny and Mental Growth

One of the more personal moments in the podcast came when Wattimena opened up about his struggles with media criticism earlier in his career. “I was criticised a lot, and I really took that to heart,” he admitted. “Once, I lost at the World Championship and already knew what was said in the studio — without even watching it.”

Online abuse made things worse. “I even received death threats. But I’ve learned to deal with it much better now.”

A viral moment on TikTok — where Wattimena refused a post-match interview — also came up. He laughed about it now: “Not my best moment. But I made up for it later with Viaplay. It’s water under the bridge.”

Eyes on the World Championship

Looking ahead, Wattimena still has one major goal in mind: reaching the last 16 at the World Championship. “That’s definitely something I want. But you’ve got to take it one match at a time. The draw plays a big part.”

Currently ranked 26th in the world and 21st on the World Championship qualifying list, Wattimena is well placed. “You’re in a good spot,” Van der Voort pointed out. “Usually, that means you avoid the top names early on.”

Will 2025 be the year Wattimena makes that breakthrough? The signs are promising. As Van der Voort summed it up: “You can feel that Jermaine is back in the mix.”

The episode wrapped up with light-hearted stories from life on the tour. Van der Voort recalled: “I pulled back the hotel curtain one morning and saw Jermaine running around outside. So early! I’ll never forget that.”

And then there was the infamous food fail in Blackpool. “I ordered a burger through Uber Eats. I got a box with a cold burger patty and some lettuce — no bun. I threw it straight in the bin,” Wattimena said, laughing.

This article first appeared on Dartsnews.com and was syndicated with permission.

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