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 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 victory came after Chris Dobey briefly overtook Nijman following his win at Players Championship Nine. Nijman responded strongly, starting with a hard-fought win against Martin Lukeman and then defeating Justin Hood to reach round three. He then averaged nearly 110 in a six-leg win over Adam Gawlas, followed by victories over Niels Zonneveld and Beau Greaves. In the semi-final, Nijman averaged 108.46 against Luke Woodhouse before dominating the final against Waites. Despite Waites reducing the deficit in leg three, Nijman regained control and powered into a 7-1 lead. Waites managed to double his score but Nijman sealed the win with a 101.34 average. 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. Nijman also recently achieved his first big-stage success at the European Darts Trophy and is aiming for more silverware at the European Darts Grand Prix. He moves up to 18th on the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder, with the goal of reaching the top 16. Elsewhere, Beau Greaves made back-to-back quarter-finals, beating Martin Schindler and Cameron Menzies. The final standings saw Nijman at the top, with notable performances from other players in the quarter-finals and semi-finals.