Nijman Clinches Fourth Ranking Title of 2026

Wessel Nijman continued his impressive start to 2026, securing his fourth ranking title of the year at the Players Championship 10 in Wigan. Nijman dominated the competition, defeating 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 overtook Nijman following his win at Players Championship Nine. Nijman began his campaign with a hard-fought win against Martin Lukeman and then went on to defeat Justin Hood, prompting a strong march towards the title. He displayed exceptional skill, averaging almost 110 in a six-leg demolition of Adam Gawlas and later averaging 109.71 to sweep aside Beau Greaves in the last eight. Nijman's semi-final showdown against Luke Woodhouse saw him average 108.46, showcasing his consistent form. In the final, Nijman capitalized on Waites' slow start to establish an early lead, setting the tone for a dominant display. Despite Waites narrowing the gap in leg three, Nijman regained control with a 12-darter and went on to win with a 101.34 average. "Today was probably the best floor event I've played all year," Nijman admitted, highlighting his impressive performance. He expressed happiness with his play in the final and throughout the day, suggesting that these types of events might suit him. Nijman also achieved a maiden big-stage success at the European Darts Trophy last month and is now targeting more silverware at the European Darts Grand Prix. "When I'm in that zone and playing good, I could play all day like that," he said, aiming to break into the top 16. Elsewhere, Beau Greaves made it back-to-back quarter-finals with an impressive showing, featuring wins over Martin Schindler and Cameron Menzies.