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 overpowered 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 took the lead following his win at Players Championship Nine, but Nijman's strong performance in Wigan solidified his position. Following a tough win against Martin Lukeman in the opening round, Nijman demonstrated his skill with a series of decisive victories, including a six-leg demolition of Adam Gawlas and a merciless performance against Beau Greaves. Averaging 109.71, Nijman swept past Greaves in the quarterfinals and then averaged 108.46 in his semifinal match against Luke 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 his composure with a 12-darter, sparking a five-leg sequence that propelled him to a 7-1 advantage. Waites managed to double his score with a comfortable hold in leg nine, but Nijman responded with a 15-dart hold to secure the win with a 101.34 average. "Today was probably the best floor event I've played all year," Nijman acknowledged, reflecting on his performance. "I hit so many averages above 105; it was a really good day. When I broke again to make it 4-1, it was a really good feeling throughout the rest of the match, and it helped me in the final." Nijman expressed satisfaction with his overall performance and is now looking forward to the European Darts Grand Prix, aiming to build on his recent success, including a maiden big-stage win at the European Darts Trophy. With his sights set on the top 16, Nijman is optimistic about his chances, saying, "When I'm in that zone and playing well, I could play all day like that. The top 16 was the goal for the year; the earlier I achieve it, the better it is." Elsewhere in the tournament, Beau Greaves delivered an impressive performance, reaching back-to-back quarterfinals with wins over Martin Schindler and Cameron Menzies. The final standings saw Wessel Nijman emerge victorious, defeating Scott Waites 8-2 in the final.