Nijman Secures Fourth Ranking Title of 2026

Wessel Nijman continued his impressive start to 2026, claiming his fourth ranking title of the year with a dominant victory 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 win came after Chris Dobey briefly took the lead following his victory at Players Championship Nine, but Nijman responded with a strong performance. Nijman began his campaign with a hard-fought win against Martin Lukeman and then defeated Justin Hood to advance to round three, marking the beginning of his march to victory. He delivered a series of impressive performances, including a six-leg demolition of Adam Gawlas, averaging nearly 110, and then defeated his compatriot Niels Zonneveld and Beau Greaves with high averages. In the semi-final, Nijman averaged 108.46 to overcome Luke Woodhouse. The final saw Nijman dominate, capitalizing on Waites' slow start to establish an early lead, setting the tone for his 8-2 win. Nijman expressed his satisfaction with his performance, stating it was probably his best floor event of the year, and he is now targeting more success in the upcoming European Darts Grand Prix. Nijman's victory also marked a new milestone, as he broke into the top 18 on the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder, with his sights set on the top 16. Elsewhere, Beau Greaves made back-to-back quarter-finals, showcasing his skill with wins over Martin Schindler and Cameron Menzies.