Wessel Nijman has once again proven his elite status in the darts world, securing his third Players Championship title of 2026 at Players Championship 10. The Dutch sensation delivered a clinical performance, culminating in an 8-2 victory over a surprising finalist, Scott Waites. Nijman’s incredible form saw him average over 100 throughout the day and in the final, propelling him back to the top of the Players Championship rankings. This win solidifies his position as a dominant force and sets the stage for further success.
Nijman’s Unstoppable Path to Victory
The 25-year-old Dutchman showcased exceptional form throughout Players Championship 10, demonstrating why he is a rising star in professional darts. Nijman’s journey to the final was marked by a series of powerful performances and impressive averages.
Key Highlights of Nijman’s Day:
- He kicked off his campaign with a hard-fought 6-4 win against Martin Lukeman.
- He then comfortably defeated Monday’s runner-up, Justin Hood, 6-2.
- A stunning 6-0 whitewash victory over Adam Gawlas featured an incredible 109.98 average, a clear statement of intent.
- Nijman continued his winning streak with a 6-3 triumph over fellow countryman Niels Zonneveld.
- In the quarter-finals, he once again posted a 109+ average to overcome Beau Greaves 6-2.
- His semi-final clash against Luke Woodhouse saw him average 108.46 in an emphatic 7-4 win, securing his spot in another Players Championship final.
A Clinical Final Performance
Nijman carried his red-hot form directly into the final against Scott Waites. Despite a nervy start where he missed three crucial darts at double in the opening leg, Nijman quickly found his rhythm. After Waites briefly narrowed the gap to 2-1, Nijman unleashed a dominant display.
He re-established control with a rapid 12-dart leg, sparking an unstoppable run of five consecutive legs that propelled him to a commanding 7-1 lead. Although Waites managed to hold his throw in the ninth leg, his average of 83.98 was simply no match for Nijman’s consistent excellence. The Dutchman sealed his 8-2 victory with a 15-dart hold, securing the £15,000 prize money. His final average was an impressive 101.34, contributing to an overall tournament average of 101.81 for the day.
This victory also saw Nijman reclaim the top spot in the Players Championship rankings, after briefly being overtaken by Chris Dobey. “Today was probably the best floor event I’ve played all year… I hit so many averages above 105, it was a really good day,” Nijman shared, clearly delighted with his performance. He added, “I’m happy with the way I played in the final and the way I played all day. Maybe these kinds of events suit me.”
Looking ahead, Nijman, who recently secured his maiden European Tour victory, is aiming for more success at the upcoming European Darts Grand Prix. “When I’m in that zone and playing good, I could play all day like that… The top 16 was the goal for the year. The earlier I get that, the better it is,” he stated.
Scott Waites: The Surprise Finalist
While Nijman stole the headlines, the day’s biggest surprise package was undoubtedly Scott Waites. The former Grand Slam of Darts champion, making a call-up from the Challenge Tour as a late replacement, rolled back the years to reach a PDC ranking final for the very first time in his career.
Waites’ Impressive Journey:
- He began his day with a stunning 6-2 win over Australian number one Damon Heta.
- This was followed by back-to-back 6-1 victories against Tavis Dudeney and Joe Cullen.
- ‘Scotty 2 Hotty’ also overcame Brendan Dolan and Kevin Doets in two hard-fought 6-4 matches.
- His semi-final against Karel Sedlacek was a thrilling encounter. With the score tied at 5-5, Waites showcased his experience and composure, hitting consecutive finishes of 116 and 121 to triumph 7-5, earning his place in the final.
Despite the final result, Waites’ performance throughout the day was a testament to his enduring talent and a significant milestone in his career.
Other Notable Performances and Rising Stars
Players Championship 10 also saw several other impressive displays from across the darts circuit:
- Karel Sedlacek: The Czech number one had a fantastic run to the semi-finals, notably ending Chris Dobey’s 11-match unbeaten streak in a dramatic 6-5 quarter-final win. His strong showing saw him move into a provisional qualification spot for July’s World Matchplay, which would be his first appearance.
- Luke Woodhouse: Reached his first ranking semi-final of 2026, defeating a strong field including Darius Labanauskas and Mervyn King.
- Joe Hunt: Made it to the quarter-finals after eliminating Premier League stars Stephen Bunting and Josh Rock, as well as Belgian number one Mike De Decker.
- Beau Greaves: Continued her impressive form, reaching the quarter-finals for the second consecutive day with wins over Cameron Menzies and German number one Martin Schindler.
- Kevin Doets: Produced a hat-trick of 100+ averages on his way to the quarter-finals, including a dominant 107.36 average in a whitewash victory over Gabriel Clemens, having also beaten Peter Wright and James Wade.
- Chris Dobey: The PC9 champion reached the quarter-finals, eliminating five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld with a 105+ average, before falling to Sedlacek.
- Dimitri van den Bergh: Showed glimmers of promise, averaging 95+ in a first-round win, though a narrow 6-5 loss where he missed a match dart highlights his ongoing challenge to retain his PDC Tour Card.
What’s Next in the World of Darts?
The exciting PDC Pro Tour action continues this weekend with the European Darts Grand Prix (ET5) in Sindelfingen, running from April 17-19. Following this, the PDC Players Championship series will resume with another double-header event in Milton Keynes on April 27-28.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
