On course for Phil Taylor’s once-untouchable record? Wessel Nijman is almost halfway

Wessel Nijman has etched his name into the ProTour record books with an exceptional run of results. The young Dutchman is only the seventh player ever to win five or more Players Championship titles in a single calendar year. That puts him among a select group of darters who manage to sustain a remarkably high level across an entire season.

Nijman captured his fifth Players Championship title of the year last Tuesday by defeating Germany’s Max Hopp 8-1 in the final in Hildesheim. His achievement stands out even more as it is the first time since 2019 that a player has hit this mark.

Back then it was James Wade who managed to win five or more Players Championship events in a single year. Nijman now joining that list underlines how strong his form curve is this season and how quickly he is developing into a permanent fixture at the highest level.

In the 24-year history of the Players Championship series, the feat of five or more titles in a year has occurred only twelve times. That highlights how exceptional it is to be so dominant across a full season in a series where the fields are large and the margins are small. Each matchday brings new opponents, fluctuating form, and often heavy schedules, making consistent winning a rarity.

The absolute benchmark in this statistic remains Phil Taylor. He produced an almost otherworldly run in 2008 with eleven titles, adding another nine victories in 2009. Michael van Gerwen also wrote himself into the history books with six titles in 2012, a season in which he confirmed his breakthrough to the absolute world elite. In addition, Simon Whitlock also reached the five-or-more mark in 2010.

Nijman’s achievement therefore places him in illustrious company among darts legends. While the dominance of players like Taylor and Van Gerwen remains exceptional at a higher total level, Nijman’s current form shows he is capable of competing with the best on the ProTour over an extended spell.

This season could prove a key turning point for the Dutchman. Winning multiple titles in one year is not only a statistical milestone, but also a clear sign of growing stability and confidence. If he can maintain this level, a further rise in the international darts scene seems only a matter of time.

The Players Championship continues next Tuesday and Wednesday in Leicester, where the fifteenth and sixteenth events of the year are scheduled.