Nijman Secures Fourth Title of 2026 with Dominant Display

Wessel Nijman continued his impressive run in 2026, claiming his fourth ranking title of the year at the Players Championship 10 in Wigan. Nijman overpowered former Grand Slam of Darts champion Scott Waites 8-2 in the final to reclaim the top spot in the Players Championship rankings. This victory came after Chris Dobey briefly surpassed Nijman following his win at Players Championship Nine, only for the Dutchman to respond with a commanding performance at the Robin Park Tennis Centre. Nijman's path to victory included a hard-fought win against Martin Lukeman, followed by a decisive victory over Justin Hood, setting the stage for his march to the title. With averages nearing 110 in his demolition of Adam Gawlas, and subsequent victories over Niels Zonneveld and Beau Greaves, Nijman demonstrated his prowess. He maintained this form in the semi-final against Luke Woodhouse and carried it into the final against Waites, capitalizing on a slow start by his opponent to establish an early lead. Despite Waites narrowing the gap, Nijman regained control and powered to a 7-1 advantage. Waites managed to double his score but ultimately fell to Nijman's 15-dart hold, securing the title with 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 in the final and throughout the day, suggesting that such events might suit him particularly well. Following his maiden big-stage success at the European Darts Trophy, Nijman is now targeting more trophies, including the upcoming European Darts Grand Prix. Climbing to 18th on the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder, Nijman's goal for the year was to reach the top 16, and he hopes to achieve this sooner rather than later. Elsewhere, Beau Greaves impressed with back-to-back quarter-finals, defeating notable players like Martin Schindler and Cameron Menzies. The road to the final saw Nijman overcome Niels Zonneveld, Beau Greaves, and Luke Woodhouse, while Waites defeated Brendan Dolan, Kevin Doets, and Karel Sedlacek. The final match resulted in Nijman's 8-2 victory over Waites.