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's victory came after he defeated former Grand Slam of Darts champion Scott Waites 8-2 in the final, reclaiming the top spot in the Players Championship rankings. Prior to this win, Chris Dobey had briefly overtaken Nijman after winning the Players Championship Nine, but the Dutchman responded with a strong performance at the Robin Park Tennis Centre. Nijman's path to victory included a hard-fought win against Martin Lukeman, followed by victories over Justin Hood, Adam Gawlas, Niels Zonneveld, and Beau Greaves. In the semi-finals, he defeated Luke Woodhouse before facing Waites in the final. Nijman averaged 109.71 against Greaves and 108.46 against Woodhouse, showcasing his exceptional skill. In the final, Nijman capitalized on Waites' slow start, establishing an early lead that set the tone for the rest of the match. Despite Waites narrowing the gap, Nijman regained control and secured the win 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 the European Darts Trophy last month, is now targeting more success in the upcoming European Darts Grand Prix. 'When I'm in that zone and playing well, I could play all day like that,' he added. Nijman's win propelled him to 18th on the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder, and he is now focused on breaking into the top 16. Elsewhere, Beau Greaves impressed with back-to-back quarter-final appearances, defeating notable players like Martin Schindler and Cameron Menzies.