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 convincingly defeated former Grand Slam of Darts champion Scott Waites 8-2 in the final to regain the top spot in the Players Championship rankings. This victory came after Chris Dobey briefly overtook Nijman following his win at Players Championship Nine, but the Dutchman responded with a strong performance at the Robin Park Tennis Centre. Nijman's path to the title included a hard-fought win against Martin Lukeman, followed by victories over Justin Hood, Adam Gawlas, Niels Zonneveld, and Beau Greaves, before defeating Luke Woodhouse in the semi-finals. In the final, Nijman capitalized on Waites' slow start to establish an early lead, ultimately winning with a 101.34 average. "Today was probably the best floor event I've played all year," Nijman said, reflecting on his performance. He also expressed his happiness with his overall play and noted that events like this might suit him particularly well. Nijman, who recently achieved his first big-stage success at the European Darts Trophy, is now aiming for more success at the European Darts Grand Prix. His goal for the year is to reach the top 16, and with his current form, he is confident in his abilities. Elsewhere, Beau Greaves had a notable run, reaching the quarter-finals for the second consecutive time with wins over Martin Schindler and Cameron Menzies. The final standings saw Nijman at the top, followed by Waites, Woodhouse, and Sedlacek.