Nijman Claims Fourth Ranking Title of 2026 with Dominant Display

Wessel Nijman continued his exceptional start to 2026, securing his fourth ranking title of the year at the Players Championship 10 in Wigan. Nijman's impressive performance saw him defeat former Grand Slam of Darts champion Scott Waites 8-2 in the final, reclaiming the top spot in the Players Championship rankings. This victory came after Chris Dobey briefly overtook Nijman following his win at Players Championship Nine, but the Dutchman responded with a resounding win. Nijman's path to the title included a hard-fought win against Martin Lukeman, followed by a decisive victory over Justin Hood. He then averaged nearly 110 in a six-leg demolition of Adam Gawlas, setting the stage for his march to the title. Nijman's dominance continued as he swept aside Beau Greaves in the quarterfinals, averaging 109.71, and then averaged 108.46 in his semifinal win against Luke Woodhouse. In the final, Nijman capitalized on Waites' slow start, establishing an early lead and maintaining control throughout the match. Despite Waites narrowing the gap in leg three, Nijman regained his composure and led 3-1, sparking a five-leg sequence that propelled him to a 7-1 advantage. Waites managed to double his score but ultimately fell to Nijman's consistent performance, which included a 101.34 average. Nijman reflected on his performance, stating it was his best floor event of the year, with multiple averages above 105. He expressed satisfaction with his play in the final and throughout the day, suggesting that these types of events may suit him particularly well. Nijman also achieved a maiden big-stage success at the European Darts Trophy last month and is now targeting more silverware at the European Darts Grand Prix. With his sights set on breaking into the top 16, Nijman climbs to 18th on the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder. Elsewhere, Beau Greaves made back-to-back quarterfinals, showcasing impressive wins over Martin Schindler and Cameron Menzies. The tournament saw notable performances from various players, with the final standings including Nijman's 8-2 win over Waites. As the darts season progresses, all eyes will be on the Premier League Darts, where Luke Humphries will defend his title, with the action available to stream on Sky Sports.