Nijman Claims Fourth Ranking Title of 2026 with Dominant Display

Wessel Nijman continued his outstanding start to 2026, securing his fourth ranking title of the year with a commanding 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 triumph came after Chris Dobey briefly surpassed Nijman following his win at Players Championship Nine, but the Dutchman responded with an emphatic performance at the Robin Park Tennis Centre. Following a tough win against Martin Lukeman, Nijman went on to defeat Justin Hood, setting the stage for a remarkable march to victory. With impressive averages, including nearly 110 in a six-leg demolition of Adam Gawlas, Nijman then defeated Niels Zonneveld and Beau Greaves with merciless performances. The 25-year-old maintained his dominance in the final, leveraging Waites' slow start to establish an early lead, which paved the way for another display of superiority. Despite Waites narrowing the gap in the third leg, Nijman regained control and powered into a 7-1 lead, ultimately emerging victorious with a 101.34 average. Nijman reflected on his performance, stating it was possibly 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 particularly suit him. With this win, Nijman broke new ground, having 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. He aims to secure a spot in the top 16, with his current climb to 18th on the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder being a promising step. Elsewhere, Beau Greaves impressed with back-to-back quarter-finals, including wins over Martin Schindler and Cameron Menzies. The road to the final saw notable performances, with the last 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final showcasing the competitive spirit of the tournament.