"I cannot put this into words": Emotional Wessel Nijman conquers remarkable eighth ranking title of 2026 at Slovak Darts Open
PDC
Wessel Nijman added another remarkable chapter to his sensational season on Sunday. The 25-year-old Dutchman was crowned the winner of the inaugural Slovak Darts Open in Bratislava after defeating Rob Cross 8-3 in the final. The victory secured Nijman's eighth ranking title of 2026 and further strengthened his status as one of the standout performers of the year.
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Less than a week after winning Players Championship 21, Nijman once again demonstrated why he is currently one of the most feared players on the PDC circuit. At the Incheba Expo in Bratislava, the Dutchman dominated throughout the weekend and capped off his impressive run by lifting the European Tour title.
Joining an elite group
With his eighth ProTour title of the season, Nijman joins an exclusive club. Previously, only Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen and Peter Wright had managed to win eight or more ProTour titles in a single season. Nijman is also the first player in 2026 to win multiple European Tour events.
Awaiting him in the final was former World Champion Rob Cross, who had enjoyed an excellent tournament himself. However, Nijman seized control from the outset. Thanks to two ton-plus finishes and a run of four consecutive legs, he surged into a comfortable 5-2 lead.
Cross continued to battle and averaged over 102, but he was unable to halt Nijman's momentum. The Dutchman produced a brilliant 12-darter to secure a break of throw before eventually sealing victory with a 74 finish. His 103.80 average highlighted the exceptional standard he maintained throughout the day.
He was emotionally unable to put it into words afterwards, showing what it meant to him as he now reaches the top 16 too. “I cannot put this into words. It’s so amazing,” confessed Nijman.
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“Sometimes you have those days where you feel this can be a winning day because you feel so confident and today was a day like that.
According to Nijman, the physical demands of the tournament also played a significant role, with conditions in the venue proving far from easy.
“I’m really happy I did it. It was so warm up here, so it was a game of stamina, but whenever you get control you’re probably going to win the game, and that’s what I did."
Wessel Nijman seals title in Bratislava.
Top of the European Tour Order of Merit
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The victory sees Nijman climb further up the world rankings, where he now occupies 14th place. He also leads the 2026 European Tour Order of Merit.
The Dutchman believes his success is further proof of the depth of quality currently within the PDC. “This tournament just shows the level of darts at the moment,” continued Nijman. "Even without [Luke] Littler and [Luke] Humphries, the level is still high and that’s what the PDC is like now.
With the World Matchplay approaching, Nijman will head to Blackpool full of confidence. Having made his debut at the prestigious event last year, he is eager for another opportunity.
“I’m really looking forward to the World Matchplay. Last year I was there and I felt this was the best tournament there is. I hope I can do some damage there and show the darts I’ve been producing here, and we’ll just see what happens."
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With eight ranking titles, two European Tour victories and a place inside the world's top 15, Nijman is already enjoying the finest season of his career. The question now no longer seems to be whether he will establish himself among the sport's elite, but rather how far his rise can continue in 2026.
Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
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- So what if littler missed out, he doesnt have to enter everythingant10-11-2026
- Good, absolutely no loss if we never see this dancing goof ever again......no that is not fair. He absolutely cannot and has never been remotely able to dance!richieburnettrocks10-11-2026
- Yes Phil,now the money in the game is bigger than ever,you'd play littler. Well so would I! Retire on your memory Phil,and your successful careerrick6709-11-2026
- And why should he listen to you?Deduce635807-11-2026
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