Players Championship 10 Round-up | Wessel Nijman’s floor dominance continues with third ProTour title in 2026 against unlikely finalist Scott Waites

We are 10 Players Championship events into 2026, and Wessel Nijman has appeared in 40% of those finals. He clinched his fourth PDC title of the year and third on the floor with a dominant 8-2 victory over Scott Waites.

It is another brilliant day out for Nijman who was brilliant throughout the day. He averaged over 101 in the final and over 108 on three separate occasions. He kept that form against an unlikely final opponent in the form of two-time BDO world champion Waites to secure more glory.

Nijman is becoming almost unstoppable on the floor. He has competed in eight of the 10 events this year, failing to make it to the quarterfinal stage twice. It is a fourth final in a stunning campaign from the young Dutchman. The number one seed began with a 6-4 win against Martin Lukeman before defeating PC9 runner-up Justin Hood.

He then went into overdrive. After losing to Adam Gawlas in the last-eight yesterday, Nijman averaged 109.98 to thrash the hapless Czech 6-0, averaging over 35 points more in the process. He took down fellow Dutchman and former next-door neighbour Niels Zonneveld 63 before again averaging north of 109 to defeat an inform Beau Greaves 6-2. Luke Woodhouse stood in his way from another final. Nijman started and finished strongly, averaging 108.46 in a 7-4 win to book his spot in the climax match as he dreamed of more glory.

One of the most unlikely Players Championship finalists, former Grand Slam champion Waites had made the most of a marvellous day out and was looking to add his name to a small selection of darters who had won a PDC title without a tour card. Sitting 13th in the Challenge Tour Order of Merit, this was a surprising run to say the least. He began with an eye-catching 6-2 win over Damon Heta before backing it up with a 601 triumph against Tavis Dudeney.

The same scoreline was repeated but against Joe Cullen to win his board. Brendan Dolan fell 6-4 in a tight match before defeating an inform Kevin Doets 6-4 in the quarterfinals. ‘Hawkeye’ had averaged over 107 in the game before that but could not continue that fine form as Waites capitalised. ‘Scotty 2 Hotty’ turned up the heat as he reached the final thanks to a 7-5 victory over Karel Sedlacek.

Waites had the chance to win the first leg but missed doubles proved to be costly. Nijman punished him with a break of throw before compounding it with a hold, taking out 64 in double 16. Waites got on the board with the awkward double 5 utilised brilliantly as Nijman ramped up the pressure.

Nijman responded with an elegant 12-darter on double 10 with zero pressure coming from behind. His scoring would be a big factor in this final. It was whether Waites would be able to keep up throughout the match and take his chances. By the fourth leg, Nijman was averaging almost 102, over 20 more points than Waites.

He broke the throw again, boosting his average to over 105. Nijman almost did this in style, missing double eight for a 127 outshot before stepping back to the oche and pinning it with no hesitation.

Waites would continue to fight on. A very nice set up shot pressured Nijman to take out double 18. He did this brilliantly, continuing to motor away with two legs needed for a seventh PDC title, a sixth on the floor.

He nailed double 18 for the second consecutive leg to edge within touching distance of more success. It would have to wait as Waites got another leg under his belt, continuing the trend of battering double 18. Nijman got it done in the next leg with his third match dart on double 20, continuing his great form.

There were a number of top names who were in action at the Robins Leisure Park Centre in Wigan. Luke Humphries was the highest ranked player to compete, and was one of the first to exit with a disappointing 6-4 defeat to Christian Kist. Premier League table topper Jonny Clayton lasted a round longer before coming a cropper against Brendan Dolan in a 6-3 loss.

Those two, along with Stephen Bunting and Josh Rock, will be making the trip to Rotterdam to compete in week 11 of the Premier League Darts. Bunting and Rock will traverse to the Netherlands on the back of an unlikely defeat to Joe Hunt.

The struggles continue for Rob Cross and Michael Smith who both remain outside the top 64 on the Players Championship Order of Merit. Peter Wright succumbed to a second round exit and is also lurking the wrong end of the top 64.

Much better fortunes for Greaves who again stole the headlines with a second consecutive quarterfinal run. Luke Littler, Michael van Gerwen, Gerwyn Price, Gary Anderson, Gian van Veen and Nathan Aspinall all did not feature.