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. Following a brief stint at the top by Chris Dobey after his victory at Players Championship Nine, Nijman responded with a commanding performance at the Robin Park Tennis Centre. After overcoming Martin Lukeman in his opener, Nijman went on to defeat Justin Hood, Adam Gawlas, Niels Zonneveld, Beau Greaves, and Luke Woodhouse en route to the final. Nijman's dominant display was marked by impressive averages, including 109.71 against Greaves and 108.46 against 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 momentum with a 12-darter and went on to win 8-2 with a 101.34 average. 'Today was probably the best floor event I've played all year,' Nijman said, reflecting on his performance. 'I hit many averages above 105, and it was a really good day.' Nijman, who also won Players Championships Two and Eight, is targeting more success in the upcoming European Darts Grand Prix. The Dutchman has broken new ground with a maiden big-stage win at the European Darts Trophy and is aiming to secure a top-16 spot in the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder. Elsewhere, Beau Greaves impressed with back-to-back quarter-final appearances, featuring wins over Martin Schindler and Cameron Menzies. The last 16 saw notable victories from Nijman, Greaves, Luke Woodhouse, Joe Hunt, Chris Dobey, Karel Sedlacek, Scott Waites, and Kevin Doets. The quarter-finals and semi-finals saw Nijman, Woodhouse, Sedlacek, and Waites emerge as the top contenders, ultimately leading to Nijman's dominant victory over Waites in the final.