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 defeated 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, 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 over Martin Lukeman and a convincing victory over Justin Hood. He then dominated Adam Gawlas, averaging nearly 110 in a six-leg match, before defeating his compatriot Niels Zonneveld and Beau Greaves with impressive averages. In the final, Nijman capitalized on Waites' slow start to establish an early lead, which set the tone for his dominant display. Despite Waites narrowing the gap in leg three, Nijman regained control with a 12-darter and went on to win 8-2 with a 101.34 average. Nijman reflected on his performance, stating that it was probably the best floor event he had played all year, with multiple averages above 105. He expressed his happiness with his performance in the final and throughout the day, suggesting that these types of events suit him well. With this victory, Nijman breaks new ground and targets more silverware in the upcoming European Darts Grand Prix. He also climbs to 18th on the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder, with the goal of reaching 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.