Nijman Secures Fourth Ranking Title of 2026 with Dominant Display

Wessel Nijman continued his impressive start to 2026, capturing 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 with a strong performance, starting with a hard-fought win against Martin Lukeman and then defeating Justin Hood to reach round three. He then dominated Adam Gawlas, averaging nearly 110 in a six-leg match, before overcoming Niels Zonneveld and Beau Greaves with impressive averages. In the semi-final, Nijman averaged 108.46 against Luke Woodhouse, setting up his decisive match against Waites. Nijman capitalized on Waites' slow start, establishing an early lead and controlling the match. Despite Waites narrowing the gap in leg three, Nijman regained control and powered to a 7-1 advantage. Waites managed to double his score but Nijman sealed the win with a 15-dart hold, achieving 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 happiness with his play and acknowledged that these types of events might suit him. With this win, Nijman breaks into the top 18 on the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder and sets his sights on the European Darts Grand Prix, aiming to secure more silverware. Meanwhile, Beau Greaves delivered a strong performance, reaching the quarter-finals for the second consecutive time, with wins over Martin Schindler and Cameron Menzies.