Sensational Wessel Nijman claims third ranking title of 2026 at Players Championship 8 “I’m living the dream”

Wessel Nijman continued his sensational start to 2026 by clinching his third ranking title of the year at Players Championship Eight in Leicester on Tuesday.

Nijman produced another composed display in the final at the Mattioli Arena, defying a barrage of maximums from Joe Cullen to secure an 8-4 victory and cement his position at the top of the Players Championship Order of Merit.

The Dutchman has been in scintillating form throughout the opening months of the campaign, having already claimed Players Championship Two before landing a maiden European Tour title in Göttingen earlier this month.

He has now reached three finals in just six Players Championship appearances this season, with Tuesday’s triumph marking his fifth ranking title since October.

“I’m living the dream life,” admitted Nijman, who was competing as the top seed for the first time.

“This week was the first time I was the number one seed, so that was pretty special for me to be honest.

“With the way I’m playing, especially in the floor events, I’m feeling pretty confident and this helps a lot.

“I’m just so happy I played the way I did today.”

Nijman signalled his intent from the outset, averaging 103.57 in a commanding opening-round win over Dominik Gruellich, before fending off a spirited fightback from Thomas Lovely to reach round three.

A whitewash victory over Tytus Kanik followed, before he edged past Keane Barry to book his place in the quarter-finals.

There, Nijman produced one of the performances of the day to overturn a 4-1 deficit against Dave Chisnall, reeling off five consecutive legs to complete a stunning comeback with a 105.11 average.

He was then pushed to the limit in his semi-final clash with compatriot Kevin Doets, surviving two match darts in a dramatic decider to progress to the final.

Awaiting him was Cullen, and the pair were inseparable in the early stages as they traded five consecutive holds of throw.

However, Nijman seized control with clinical 96 and 121 checkouts to establish a 5-3 advantage, before capitalising on a crucial missed opportunity from his opponent.

Cullen squandered nine darts at double in leg 11 to reduce the deficit, and Nijman punished the lapse ruthlessly, moving 7-4 ahead before sealing the title with a 14-dart break of throw.

Despite falling short, Cullen delivered his most impressive performance of the season to date, collecting the £10,000 runner-up prize.

The former Masters champion recorded hard-fought victories over Samuel Price and Michael Smith, before coming through deciding-leg encounters against Damon Heta and Tom Sykes.

Cullen averaged 103 in his win over Sykes and maintained that standard with victories against Charlie Manby and Sebastian Bialecki to reach the final.

Bialecki also enjoyed a strong run to the semi-finals, producing convincing wins over Kim Huybrechts and Daryl Gurney, as well as a 6-1 success against Leon Weber in the quarter-finals.

Doets, meanwhile, progressed to the last four after winning a trio of deciding-leg encounters against Jonny Clayton, Richard Veenstra and Chris Dobey.

Dobey was one of several players to impress across the two-day double-header, reaching back-to-back quarter-finals alongside Manby, who defeated Gary Anderson and Stephen Bunting en route.

Elsewhere, Weber reached his first ranking quarter-final of the season after eliminating former World Matchplay champions Peter Wright and Nathan Aspinall.

Chisnall also starred despite his quarter-final exit, producing the performance of the day with a stunning 111.72 average in his 6-1 demolition of Martin Schindler.

Schindler was joined in the last-eight exits by Michael van Gerwen and Clayton, who were defeated by Mervyn King and Doets respectively.

Monday’s champion Ryan Searle suffered a first-round exit at the hands of Christian Kist, while Anderson and Rob Cross also bowed out at the same stage.

The 2026 PDC ProTour season continues with the German Darts Grand Prix in Munich from April 4-6, before Players Championship action resumes in Wigan on April 13-14.

Sensational Wessel Nijman claims third ranking title of 2026 at Players Championship 8

2026 Players Championship 8

Tuesday March 31

Mattioli Arena, Leicester

Last 16

Wessel Nijman 6-5 Keane Barry

Dave Chisnall 6-5 Mervyn King

Chris Dobey 6-1 Wesley Plaisier

Kevin Doets 6-5 Richard Veenstra

Charlie Manby 6-4 Stephen Bunting

Joe Cullen 6-5 Tom Sykes

Sebastian Bialecki 6-2 Daryl Gurney

Leon Weber 6-3 Sietse Lap

Quarter-Finals

Wessel Nijman 6-4 Dave Chisnall

Kevin Doets 6-5 Chris Dobey

Joe Cullen 6-4 Charlie Manby

Sebastian Bialecki 6-1 Leon Weber

Semi-Finals

Wessel Nijman 7-6 Kevin Doets

Joe Cullen 7-4 Sebastian Bialecki

Final

Wessel Nijman 8-4 Joe Cullen