Sublime Wessel Nijman wins fourth Players Championship of 2026 ” This is a big step into the top 16 and hopefully there will be many more steps”

Wessel Nijman maintained his astonishing start to 2026 by securing his fourth Players Championship title of the year at Tuesday’s Players Championship 12 in Milton Keynes.

Nijman – also the winner of March’s European Darts Trophy – prevailed in an all-Dutch final against Jermaine Wattimena to pocket the £15,000 top prize at Arena MK.

Wattimena established an early 4-2 cushion in his bid for a first ranking title since October, only for Nijman to storm back by winning six of the next seven legs to complete an impressive 8-5 victory.

“It was kind of a nervy final. I went behind after missing some doubles,” reflected Nijman, who has now reached five finals in just ten Players Championship appearances this year.

“I’m so happy I kept it together. There were some finishes I hit with the last dart, and the 57 [to go 6-5 up] was important.

“When it clicks together and you play those finals, and you’ve been playing those games all day long, the next time you come, you remember that.

“Me and Jermaine will be close in the next few months, but this is a big step into the top 16 and hopefully there will be many more steps made.

“Top 16 was one of the goals I had at the start of the year, to get that privilege of starting on the Saturday [in Euro Tours] and starting on the left side of the draw in big majors.”

After opening with a commanding 6-2 win over Scott Williams, Nijman survived a match dart against Tom Sykes in round two, overturning a 5-4 deficit to stay alive.

The Dutchman then defeated Sebastian Bialecki 6-3 before seeing off Ryan Searle by the same scoreline – his sixth straight win over the World Championship semi-finalist.

A routine 6-2 success against Nathan Potter followed, before Nijman averaged 103.41 in a 7-4 semi-final win over Tom Bissell.

That set up a decisive showdown with Wattimena, who enjoyed the better of the early exchanges thanks to some clinical combination finishing.

However, Nijman responded with a three-leg burst – including an 11-dart break – to move 5-4 ahead, before defying an 80 checkout from Wattimena to edge further in front at 6-5.

Wattimena then squandered six darts at double to level in a crucial 12th leg, and Nijman punished immediately before sealing the title with a 14-dart hold.

Despite missing out on a third Players Championship crown, Wattimena enjoyed a timely return to form in Milton Keynes, having not progressed beyond the last 16 of a ranking event in 2026 prior to Tuesday.

The 2024 European Championship runner-up beat compatriots Martijn Dragt and Sietse Lap to begin his run, before battling past Joe Hunt and Tommy Lishman.

Wattimena then averaged 104.43 in a sparkling quarter-final win over Chris Dobey and followed it up with a doubling masterclass in his 7-3 semi-final victory against Kevin Doets.

Doets reached back-to-back semi-finals after another strong showing at Arena MK, with wins over Gabriel Clemens, Mike De Decker and Gary Anderson.

He was joined in the final four by Bissell, who produced one of the standout runs of his PDC career to reach a second Players Championship semi-final.

Bissell averaged 100.42 across his six matches, defeating Ross Smith and Max Hopp, while also whitewashing Monday’s champion Beau Greaves in the last 16.

Anderson – a semi-finalist on Monday – continued his fine form by averaging 107 and 105 in wins over Yorick Hofkens and Krzysztof Ratajski respectively.

Dobey, a two-time Players Championship winner in 2026, also reached the quarter-finals, alongside a revitalised Hopp.

Potter completed the quarter-final line-up after impressive victories over Dimitri Van den Bergh, Daryl Gurney and James Wade in just his second Players Championship appearance.

The 2026 PDC ProTour season continues next week with another Players Championship double-header, as Hildesheim hosts Events 13 and 14 on May 4-5.

Sublime Wessel Nijman wins fourth Players Championship of 2026

2026 Players Championship 12

Tuesday April 28

Arena MK, Milton Keynes

Last 16

Wessel Nijman 6-3 Ryan Searle

Nathan Potter 6-2 James Wade

Tom Bissell 6-0 Beau Greaves

Max Hopp 6-5 Darryl Pilgrim

Chris Dobey 6-1 Chris Landman

Jermaine Wattimena 6-2 Tommy Lishman

Kevin Doets 6-5 Mike De Decker

Gary Anderson 6-3 Alexander Merkx

Quarter-Finals

Wessel Nijman 6-2 Nathan Potter

Tom Bissell 6-3 Max Hopp

Jermaine Wattimena 6-3 Chris Dobey

Kevin Doets 6-1 Gary Anderson

Semi-Finals

Wessel Nijman 7-4 Tom Bissell

Jermaine Wattimena 7-3 Kevin Doets

Final

Wessel Nijman 8-5 Jermaine Wattimena