Wessel Nijman has achieved a remarkable feat in the world of darts, securing eight or more Pro Tour titles in a single season. This places him in an incredibly exclusive club alongside legends Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, and Peter Wright. Surprisingly, even darts sensation Luke Littler has yet to reach this milestone. With half the season still to play, Nijman’s accomplishment signals a potentially historic year for the young Dutchman.
The darts world is buzzing with the news that Wessel Nijman has joined an incredibly exclusive club, a group of players who have dominated the Pro Tour circuit like no other. His recent victory at the Slovak Darts Open marked his eighth Pro Tour title of the season, a milestone that puts him in the company of darts’ all-time greats.
The Elite “Super-8s” Club
According to the PDC (Professional Darts Corporation), Wessel Nijman is only the fourth player in history to claim eight or more Pro Tour titles within a single season. The other members of this prestigious group are:
- Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor
- Michael ‘Mighty Mike’ van Gerwen
- Peter ‘Snakebite’ Wright
This achievement is particularly significant given that darts’ current teenage superstar, Luke Littler, has not yet reached this level of Pro Tour dominance in a single season, highlighting the rarity and difficulty of Nijman’s accomplishment.
Phil Taylor: The Unmatched Pioneer
The definition of a “Pro Tour title” has evolved over the years with the PDC’s changing structure, leading to some debate about early records. However, one name stands head and shoulders above any definitional quibbles: Phil Taylor. ‘The Power’ set an almost unbelievable standard.
- In 2008, Taylor secured at least 13 Pro Tour titles. This included two UK Open Qualifiers and nine official PDPA Player Championships, alongside other events like the Antwerp Darts Trophy.
- Remarkably, he repeated this feat in 2009, claiming a minimum of 13 Pro Tour titles once again.
Taylor’s sheer volume of wins in those early years underscores his unparalleled dominance and sets a benchmark that few have even come close to.
Michael van Gerwen: The Green Machine’s Reign
As Michael van Gerwen ascended to become the sport’s dominant force, he too began to rack up an impressive number of Pro Tour victories. ‘Mighty Mike’ has had multiple seasons of incredible consistency:
- In 2023, he collected 9 titles across various European Tour, Players Championship, and UK Open Qualifier events.
- His 2015 season saw him claim at least 11 titles.
- The year 2016, often considered one of his finest overall, was truly exceptional, with Van Gerwen securing a remarkable 14 Pro Tour titles.
- He also achieved the “Super-8s” milestone for a third time in 2017, demonstrating his sustained excellence.
Peter Wright: ‘Snakebite’s’ Stellar Season
The year 2017 was unique, as it saw two players achieve the “Super-8s” feat. Alongside Michael van Gerwen, Peter Wright also enjoyed a phenomenal year on the Pro Tour circuit. ‘Snakebite’ showcased his talent across various formats:
- He won 3 UK Open Qualifiers.
- He secured 5 European Tour titles.
- He added 1 Players Championship title.
This combined effort brought his total for 2017 to an impressive 9 Pro Tour titles, solidifying his place in this elite group.
Wessel Nijman: Half the Season to Go!
Wessel Nijman’s entry into this exclusive club is particularly exciting because of how early he has achieved it. Currently, in 2026, he already stands at 8 titles, a mix of 2 European Tour victories and 6 Players Championship wins.
The most compelling aspect of Nijman’s achievement is that there is still fully half of the season remaining. This raises an exhilarating question:
Can the young Dutchman not only surpass Peter Wright’s 2017 total but potentially challenge the incredible season records set by two players widely regarded as the greatest in the history of the game, Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen? Only time will tell, but Wessel Nijman has already etched his name into darts history.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
