Nijman Claims Fourth Ranking Title of 2026 with Dominant Display

Wessel Nijman continued his impressive start to 2026, securing his fourth ranking title of the year with a convincing victory at the Players Championship 10 in Wigan. Nijman defeated former Grand Slam of Darts champion Scott Waites 8-2 in the final, reclaiming the top spot in the Players Championship rankings. This win came after Chris Dobey briefly overtook Nijman following his victory at Players Championship Nine on Monday. Nijman's path to the title included a hard-fought win against Martin Lukeman, followed by victories over Justin Hood, Adam Gawlas, Niels Zonneveld, and Beau Greaves. He then faced Luke Woodhouse in the semi-finals, winning 7-4, before dominating the final against Waites. Nijman's impressive performance was marked by high averages, including 109.71 against Greaves and 108.46 against Woodhouse. In the final, he capitalized on Waites' slow start, establishing an early lead and maintaining control throughout the match. Nijman reflected on his performance, stating it was probably his best floor event of the year, with multiple averages above 105. He expressed happiness with his play in the final and throughout the day, suggesting that these types of events suit him well. With this win, Nijman breaks into the top 18 on the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder and sets his sights on further success, aiming for the top 16 and looking to improve upon recent first-round exits in Munich and Wieze. Elsewhere, Beau Greaves had a notable run, reaching back-to-back quarter-finals with wins over Martin Schindler and Cameron Menzies.